Final Bihar battle: its again Lalu versus Nitish

As three of the remaining seats in Bihar go to polls on Thursday,the NDA seems to be a favourite with a 2:1 chance.

As three of the remaining seats in Bihar go to polls on Thursday,the NDA seems to be a favourite with a 2:1 chance. As many as 57 candidates,including Lalu Prasad Yadav,Shatrughan Sinha,Shekhar Suman,Ranjan Prasad Yadav,are in the fray. There are over 48 lakh voters in the three constituencies of Patna,Nalanda and Pataliputra.

The fourth phase can also be termed as a battle of crorepatis. Shatrughan Sinha,Shekhar Suman,Lalu Prasad Yadav,Vijay Kumar Sahu,Ranjan Prasad Yadav and Vijay Singh Yadav are all crorepatis. Bollywood actor Shatrughan Sinha is on the top of the list with Rs 17.5 crore assets.

RJD president Lalu Prasad Yadav has a slight edge in Pataliputra over friend-turned-foe from JDU Ranjan Prasad Yadav. Theres also another Yadav the Congresss Vijay Singh Yadav who is contesting from here. However,Pataliputra is more a battle between Lalu and Nitish. Lalu banks on traditional Muslim-Yadav votes. Nitish is trying to upset Lalus applecart with his development work and EBC extremely backward caste factor. Lalu has devoted little time on campaigning in Nalanda and Patna Saheb and instead,has tried to visit all the important pockets in Pataliputra. He has also contested from Saran.

Patna Saheb is witnessing a star war with BJPs Shatrughan Sinha taking on the Congresss Shekhar Suman. However,one cannot rule out RJDs Vijay Sahu. Despite his fan following,Shekhar Suman is likely to find the going tough. Shatrughan,riding on his star power and Nitish factor,looks all set to have an edge in this constituency.

Nalanda,Nitishs home turf,is likely to choose Nitish man and JDU nominee Kaushlendra Prasad. While Congress candidate Ramswaroop Prasad and LJPs Satish Kumar are claiming their own support base,Kaushlendra is expected to sail through in the CMs pocket borough. After all,it is more a vote for Nitish than Kaushlendra. The LJP has a strong base in Muslim-Yadav belt,but over four lakh Kurmis and other caste people are likely to tilt the scale heavily in JDUs favour. Besides,Nitishs development work has had a much bigger impact here than in other place.

Security personnel from both the Central and state police force have been deployed in these three constituencies. Additional Director General of Police Neelmani says,Two Assembly segments are sensitive,and there will be heavy deployment of forces and aerial vigil by four helicopters.