A total of 1,062 candidates have filed their nomination papers till Friday, the last date for doing so in 94 assembly seats going to the polls in Bihar in the second phase on November 3.Holding a joint campaign rally ahead of the assembly polls, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his deputy Sushil Modi Sunday launched a blistering attack on rival Lalu Prasad Yadav highlighting the crime situation and lack of development during RJD’s tenure in the past. “What was the condition of law and order at that time. People were afraid to step out of home after sunset. We ended ‘jungle raj’ and established ‘rule of law’,” PTI quoted Kumar as saying at the Buxar rally.
Lok Janshakti Party president Chirag Paswan on Sunday downplayed the BJP’s recent attacks on him and claimed that the saffron party was only following the “coalition dharma” as an ally of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. “I do not need to exhibit my relations with the prime minister. From the time when my father was in the hospital to his last rites, I can never forget what he (PM) has done for me,” Paswan tweeted.
Paswan’s remarks came at a time when the BJP is making efforts to dispel the impression of having any tacit understanding with the LJP. The LJP leader also accused Kumar of trying to create a distance between the former and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
LJP leader Chirag Paswan.
In the midst of electioneering, the JD(U) candidate from Jagdishpur assembly seat Sushumlata Kushwaha delivered a baby girl, drawing rich praise from Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday. Kumar, who addressed an election rally in Jagdishpur with his deputy Sushil Kumar Modi during the day, gave the news of Kushwaha delivering a baby girl Saturday night. He blessed the mother and the newborn child from the dais. Kushwaha is still in a hospital in Patna and could not attend the public meeting of the CM.
Facing the daunting task of taking on a three-time sitting MLA, Congress candidate from Bihar’s Bankipur Luv Sinha on Sunday said he has decided to fight an “uphill battle” on his political debut by challenging the BJP in its bastion in order to prove his mettle.
The son of Bollywood superstar and former Union minister Shatrughan Sinha, Luv Sinha also said he is not contesting from the Bankipur assembly seat that falls in the Patna Sahib Lok Sabha segment to avenge his father’s defeat from there in the 2019 general elections. He asserted that he was fighting for the welfare of the people of Patna.
An actor-turned-politician like his father, he told PTI in an interview that the BJP was a changed party post-2014 and alleged that there were not many intra-party discussions now but only “orders” were given. Read more
In the coming Bihar polls, where the BJP is seen as positioning itself to win more seats than its ally the JD(U), the party has left as many as 11 seats for the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP). This has left the BJP with 110 seats, against the JD(U)’s 115. The reason for the BJP’s accommodation of the political greenhorn is the votes the VIP commands.
Led by Bollywood set decorator from Darbhanga Mukesh Sahani, the VIP came into being only two years ago, even though Sahani has been politically active since 2013. Championing the cause of the Nishad (Mallah) caste bouquet — Sahani officially calls himself “Son of Mallah” — the party claims considerable influence among the boatmen and fishermen communities populating the riverine belts of North Bihar. --Deeptimaan Tiwary's report
Holding a joint campaign rally ahead of the assembly polls, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his deputy Sushil Modi Sunday launched a blistering attack on rival Lalu Prasad Yadav highlighting the crime situation and lack of development during RJD’s tenure in the past. Reeling out comparative data during 15 years under the RJD and an equal period under the NDA now, the two sought another chance from voters to speed up development work in the state in the next five years, reported PTI.
Ravi Shankar Prasad at a campaign in support of Rinki Rani Pandey
A day after Union Home Minister Amit Shah asserted that the NDA in Bihar constitutes just four parties and the LJP was its contender, the regional outfit's president Chirag Paswan said on Sunday that the saffron camp leaders were hitting out at him under pressure from JD(U) boss and chief minister Nitish Kumar. Paswan also said that BJP leaders were free to throw barbs at the LJP, as part of their "coalition dharma", but he would always hold Prime Minister Narendra Modi in high regard. --PTI
RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav on Sunday took a swipe at Bihar CM over the latter's remark that absence of sea led to fewer industries in the state. Sharing a cartoon on Twitter, Lalu wrote: "Do you now want the Indian Ocean brought to Bihar before you set up industries? Don't hide your failures of 15 years behind tall statements. You are tired, go rest."
Upping the ante on the BJP-JD(U) combine, the Congress on Sunday released its campaign song ‘Bole Bihar Badle Sarkar’ (Bihar seeks government change) for the upcoming Bihar assembly elections. The three-minute song, launched at the party’s Bihar headquarters by Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, targets the Nitish Kumar government over issues like education, unemployment, rising corruption, crime, Covid-19 situation, violence against women and agrarian distress.
The campaign song says the people of Bihar now demands a change and wants its government to be formed by the Congress. Read full story here
Congress launches elections campaign song 'Bole Bihar Badle Sarkar'. Here's a glimpse of the song.
"The idea of a 'Bihar First' is stuck like a rope in the neck of the JD[U] leaders. With the Prime Minister's mantra for welfare, I am committed to 'Bihar First'," Paswan said.
Continuing his attack on Kumar, Paswan said: "I don't want PM Modi to get into any trouble because of me. He can fulfill his relationship with his allies. He can even say a word or two against me if he wants for the satisfaction of the chief minister." He added: "Nitish Kumar should thank BJP workers that despite the anger against the chief minister, they are fulfilling their duties and keep asking the CM to support me."
LJP leader Chirag Paswan today accused Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar of potraying a rift between the former and Prime Minister Narendra Modi today. In a fresh attack on the JD[U] chief, Paswan tweeted: "The minister who is an expert on the divide and rule policy is trying to keep me and the BJP at a distance. I donn't have to explain the relation I share with the Prime Minister. I can never forget his support right from the time my father was in the hospital till the time we held his final rites."
Taking a swipe at the present Bihar government, the Congress posted on Twitter: "The government should focus on changing the ringtone of the coronavirus. The rest of the changes will be made by the Bihar citizens."
Taking to Twitter this morning, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav said: "Respected Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is tired. He has no choice but to sit in a chair and spend the rest of his life. He is no worry for the youth, farmers, students, women and poor. He has regarded the chair as the first and final truth."
SHAKTISINH Gohil may seem an odd choice as the Congress in-charge of Bihar, particularly given the uphill battle the party faces in a state where it has been now out of power since 1990. However, there are two things that make the 60-year-old uniquely placed for the job: the fact that he is a veteran of many political battles against Narendra Modi-led BJP in native Gujarat; and that he is among the few Congress leaders considered close to both Ahmed Patel and Rahul Gandhi. In his over three-decade political career, it is the first time Gohil will be overseeing a state election as an AICC pointsman. His hand is seen in the hard bargaining by the Congress to secure 70 seats in the Mahagathbandhan, a huge jump from the 41 the party had contested in Bihar in 2015. Click here to read more.
Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam, the party’s sole star campaigner from Maharashtra for the Bihar Assembly elections, spoke to Sandeep Ashar on how the reverse migration during the lockdown will play out in the polls. He said: "Post (coronavirus-induced) lockdown when there was reverse migration, the Bihar government reacted most irresponsibly. Nitish didn’t want people coming back. People were forced to walk for days, take auto, or cycles. The Bihar government had the worst record when it came to helping migrants." Read the full interview here.
While referring to Democratic candidate in the US elections Joe Biden's remarks about choosing hope over fear and unity over division, former Union minister P Chidambaram on Sunday urged voters in Bihar to take a similar vow. Taking to Twitter he said: "Mr Joe Biden, Democratic candidate in the US elections said yesterday 'We choose hope over fear, unity over division, science over fiction and yes, truth over lies'. That's a good vow that the people of Bihar, MP and elsewhere should take when they go to the polling booths this month."
Rattled by Lok Janshakti Party leader Chirag Paswan’s repeated attacks on its leader Nitish Kumar — and his simultaneous praise for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP — the Janata Dal (United) has cautioned its ally that this could hurt the alliance. And has asked the BJP to clearly signal that it’s not playing both sides. This may be easier said than done. But, sources said, this was behind senior BJP leaders Friday coming out sharply criticising Paswan, backing Nitish and announcing joint rallies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Nitish Kumar. This, even as a section of the BJP planned to prop up the young Paswan, hoping this will “cut Nitish to size,” blunt anti-incumbency, and reduce his party to a junior partner. This section even wanted the LJP as a partner, given its 5 per cent support base, especially among a section of Dalits. At least three JD(U) MPs The Indian Express spoke to admitted that there was such a “deliberate” attempt. Click here to read more.
While BJP has distanced itself from LJP, Chirag Pawan continued to show support to the saffron party. On Saturday, Paswan congratulated Shreyasi Singh, who has been named as candidate from Bihar's Jamui constituency. Taking to Twitter, he said, "A lot of best wishes to sister from BJP Shreyasi Singh from Jamui assembly. Appeal to all LJP workers to help Shreyasi. Only young BJP candidates and LJP candidates will form new Bihar."
This election is a choice between new horizon and Hindu-Muslim agenda, between growth and hate-divide, says Randeep Surjewala.
Taking a swipe at RJD chief Lalu Prasad, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday asked except for anointing his (Lalu’s) wife on the chief miniterial chair did the RJD government do anything for the upliftment of women in 15 years’ tenure. Without taking any names, Kumar apparently targeted the young opposition leadership in the upcoming elections, saying that “those even having no knowledge of alphabets of politic are making statements against me day and night to gain publicity”.
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav's rallies tomorrow.
BJP leader Syed Shahnawaz said Congress is speaking the language of separatists.
In Begusarai district, Anganwadi worker Sangita Jha, 47, who would earlier clock 9 am to 6 pm in pre-Covid times, caring for the 225 families within her purview, has stopped counting the hours. The pandemic and the impending Assembly election have left the already underpaid and neglected Anganwadi women exasperated. Around two lakh Anganwadi women in the state, last month, pulled out of a 36-day strike to demand higher honorarium and the status of government employees. Bihar has one lakh Anganwadi sevikas (workers) who get paid Rs 5,650 a month, and an equal number of sahayikas (helpers) who get Rs 2,825.
Mandated to execute the projects under the government’s Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme, the Anganwadi workers provide nutrition to pregnant women, young children and lactating mothers. “But this is never the case. We are called to duty for every government assignment, including the elections,” says Sangita. Last month, they were instructed to carry out small rallies, accompanied by children, raise slogans, and conduct a rangoli campaign to impress upon villagers the need to vote. -- Esha Roy's report
RJD terms NDA govt in Bihar as 'anti-youth', promises 10 lakh jobs to the unemployed in its first term.
BJP promises skill training centre in every district to make youths 'atmanirbhar'
"Ultra-Leftist forces want to spread their wings in Bihar through RJD given its weak leadership under Tejashwi Yadav," says BJP's Bhupender Yadav
A day after the BJP accused the Congress of fielding a “sympathiser” of Mohammad Ali Jinnah in Bihar elections, former AMU Students’ Union president Maskoor Usmani Friday said that the National Democratic Alliance [NDA] would be held responsible if his safety was compromised during the course of the elections.
Former health minister and elder son of RJD chief Lalu Prasad, Tej Pratap Yadav has always been a curious case in Bihar politics. Though he is elder to Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, in official papers, he is younger than Tejaswhi. At his actual age of 32 years, he seems to have now reconciled to younger Tejashwi, the Grand Alliance’s CM face, taking over party reins. Tej Pratap, who had turned a rebel during the last Lok Sabha poll campaign and fielded three supporters as Independents, had later formed Lalu Rabri Morcha to register his defiance. Now he is content with the slogan “Tej Raftaar, Tejashwi Sarkar (high speed Tejashwi government)” — happy with just his name figuring in some way in the political stakes, and hopeful that while Tejashwi is clear No. 1, there is still scope for No. 2. In the short-lived RJD-JD(U) government, Tej had been No. 3 before senior RJD leaders such as Abdul Bari Siddiqui. Click here to read more.
BJP leaders Bhupender Yadav, Manoj Tiwari and Sanjay Jaiswal today launched the 'e-Kamal' website and election song 'Modi ji ki leher', featuring party leader and actor Dinesh Lal Yadav 'Nirahua'.
The Mahagathbandhan or Grand Alliance today released its manifesto for the assembly elections. With a focus on farm laws and jobs, the ally parties promised to provide 10 lakh government jobs with all application forms free of cost, waive off loans of the farmers, increasing the number of MNREGA working days from 100 to 200 and establishment of Karpuri Shramveer support centre.
Hours after former home minister P Chidambaram said the Congress resolutely stands for restoration of the status and rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, BJP president J P Nadda on Friday lashed out at the Opposition party, accusing it of deploying “Divide India dirty tricks” ahead of Bihar elections. While welcoming the “coming together of mainstream regional parties of J&K to fight a constitutional battle to restore the rights of the people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh”, Chidambaram tweeted, “The Congress also resolutely stands for restoration of the status and rights of the people of J&K. The arbitrary and unconstitutional decisions of the Modi government of August 5, 2019 must be rescinded.” Click here to read more.
Highlighting the NDA's 'failure' to provide electricity to all households, the RJD today tweeted: "The NDA is a fused bulb. It is time to change the bulb. It is time to spread the light across households. It is time to reject a helpless government and vote for Tejashwi Yadav."
On paper, apprehension among a section of the Congress of the RJD giving it a bad bargain in the 70 seats allotted to it as part of the Mahagathbandhan, seems to be justified. The constituencies the party is contesting from finally became evident Friday evening when it released its list at the end of some hard-nosed negotiations with the RJD. Of the 70 seats, the Congress has not won 45 in the last two decades, with 12 won by either the BJP or its ally JD(U). In 18 of the 70, even Congress partner RJD has not won in 20 years. Twenty-three of the seats in the Congress’s share are those it had won last time. It has had to cede four seats that it won in 2015 to allies and has got two constituencies from where the RJD had won. Click here to read more.
Continuing his address to the media, Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala said: "The BJP is preparing a controversy in its hatred factory, to divert attention. Our Jale candidate never aligned with Jinnah's ideology. When he was an AMU student, he had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the removal of Jinnah's portrait from the varsity, Parliament and Bombay High Court. But PM Modi never responded."
As Bihar prepares to vote in the midst of a pandemic, the plight of labourers, many of whom have returned from metros in the past six months, is an important election issue. Next to where the men sit, the Boring Canal Road, and indeed Patna, seems to have returned to ‘normalcy’, with chaotic roads, open markets, and people roaming without masks. But these men ask “what is normal?” “There is absolutely no work. Most of us are mistri (masons) or rajmistri (supervisors), and depend on the real estate sector for work, earning between Rs 600-700 a day. Now, even if we get work, payment is not guaranteed,” said Raghu Gupta, a worker at the chowk. The group also alleges “gadbad” in government schemes. Says Kashinath, “This always happens to the poor. Some have ration cards, others don’t. Some get government relief, others have their names incorrectly spelled in government records, and miss out.” Click here to read more.
Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala today said his party would scrap the contentious agricultural bills, which has resulted in massive farmers' protests, if they were voted to power and allowed to form the government under the leadership of RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav. "If we form the government, under the leadership of Tejaswhi Yadav, we will pass a Bill in the first Vidhan Sabha session to scrap the three anti-farm laws," he was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
Political parties on Saturday will continue with their campaign for the Bihar Assembly Elections which is slated to begin on October 28. Voting for 243 assembly constituencies are scheduled to be held in three phases–October 28 (71 seats), November 3 (94 seats) and November 7 (78 seats). The counting of votes will take place on November 10. Follow our live blog for all the latest updates.