Campaigning for the first phase of Bihar assembly elections ended on Tuesday evening. Top campaigners from BJP, Janata Dal (United), RJD, Congress, Jan Suraj and other political parties held rallies, road shows and interacted with voters to boost the prospects of their candidates.
In the first phase of voting, voting will be held on 6 November for a total of 121 seats in 18 districts. The second phase of assembly elections will be held on November 11 and counting of votes will take place on November 14.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while talking to party workers through NaMo app, said that the people of Bihar have made up their mind to make NDA victorious in the assembly elections and break the record of the last 20 years. He said that development of Bihar is possible only under the leadership of NDA.
He said, “I have watched this election closely and one thing I can say is that the NDA is winning this election with an overwhelming majority. I have no doubt about the victory of the NDA. The people of Bihar have made up their mind that this time they will break the record of the last 20 years by making the NDA victorious. The people of ‘Jungle Raj’ will see their biggest defeat. Bihar can develop only under the leadership of the NDA.”
He urged party workers to discuss ‘Panna’ and other issues.
It is noteworthy that chiefs have been appointed to ensure maximum participation of voters in the elections. Union Minister Amit Shah held election rallies in Darbhanga and on the last day of the first phase of voting. He also held rallies in Motihari and Bettiah.
Taking a dig at the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Amit Shah said that the jungle raj that people have seen under the rule of Lalu Prasad Yadav and Rabri Devi should not be allowed to return. Shah appealed to the people to vote for BJP.
RJD leader and Grand Alliance’s chief ministerial candidate Tejashwi Yadav held a press conference and expressed confidence of ousting the Nitish Kumar government.
Speaking to ANI, Yadav said farmers will get an additional Rs 300 per quintal for paddy and Rs 400 per quintal for wheat over and above the existing minimum support price (MSP). He said that if the Grand Alliance government is formed in Bihar, then farmers will also be given free electricity for irrigation.
Tejashwi Yadav said, “Apart from MSP, we will give farmers Rs 300 for paddy and Rs 400 for wheat. We will give free electricity to farmers for irrigation.”
The RJD leader reiterated the promise made under the ‘Mai Bahin Maan Yojana’. Women enrolled under the scheme will receive Rs 30,000 in their accounts on January 14, the day of Makar Sankranti, which will mark the symbolic beginning of the new year.
Jan Suraj founder Prashant Kishore held road shows in Sandesh, Arrah and Shahpur assembly constituencies. He urged voters to support his party as a “new alternative” for change in the state’s governance system.
He said, “The people of Bihar have a new issue, Jan Suraj. We appeal to the voters to vote for us to bring changes in the system and governance of Bihar.”
He also targeted Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav and accused him of making tall promises before the assembly elections. “Tejashwi Yadav should tell what he will do after retirement. He is losing the elections. He is saying anything,” Kishor told ANI.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, while addressing a rally in Aurangabad, expressed confidence of forming a grand alliance government in Bihar and said that it will be an inclusive government. He alleged that Nitish Kumar is “just the facade of the government while the real control is with Prime Minister Modi and Amit Shah.”
He said that Nitish Kumar has been the Chief Minister for almost 20 years, but the talented youth of Bihar work outside the state and many of them do small jobs.
The Congress leader also criticized the Agneepath scheme, saying that an important opportunity for the youth to serve the country has been blocked. He said that 75 percent of firefighters are dismissed after four years of service.
Rahul Gandhi said that if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government is formed at the Centre, Bihar will have one of the best universities in the world on the lines of the ancient Nalanda University, where people from all over the world will come to study.
Nitish Kumar addressed election rallies in support of NDA candidates in Alaulla and Khagaria in Khagaria district, Teghra in Begusarai district and Masaurhi in Patna district.
In the first phase of elections, both the ruling NDA and the opposition Grand Alliance have released their manifestos, due to which the election campaign has intensified.