In Bihar election, 'Mahagathbandhan a mess, NDA to win 220 seats': BJP puzzled by Tejashwi

As bugle for Bihar assembly elections was blown on Friday by Election Commission of India, BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain, setting high expectations for NDA coalition, said that NDA will win at least 220 seats out of total 243 seats in Bihar assembly polls.

"In Bihar, NDA will win at least 220 seats in 2020 elections. As far as Opposition is concerned, y have existence. Like Lok Sabha elections, y will be wiped out in this election. NDA alliance had won 39 out of 40 seats in Bihar," Hussain told ANI.

" people of Bihar will bless NDA in Bihar and will give 220 seats easily on basis of good governance under leadership of Nitish Kumar in state and work done by Prime Minister at Centre and work done especially for Bihar by Centre," he added.

He refuted any such occurrence of rifts in NDA and said that alliance will put up a united fight. Speaking of opposition he took at dig at RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav saying that one is ready to accept him as ir leader and grand opposition alliance (Mahagathbandhan) is in a mess.

"Tejashwi Yadav has made his far's face disappear from posters. grand alliance is broken and one is ready to consider Tejashwi Yadav as leader," Hussain said.

"On contrary, all leaders in National Democratic Alliance, including our national president, have already said that our only face is Nitish Kumar. With Prime Minister Narendra Modi's work and Nitish Kumar's good governance in Bihar, NDA will fight unitedly and win 220 seats in elections," he added.

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Bihar Election dates anunced

Election Commission of India in a press conference on Friday anunced  schedule for Bihar assembly elections. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sunil Arora said that polls for 243-member legislative assembly will be held in three phases. First phase will be held on October 28, Second on vember 3 and third on vember 7, while counting of votes and results declaration will be held on vember 10. Sunil Arora also informed that Model Code of Conduct will be in effect from Friday with anuncement of election dates.

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NDA vs Mahagathbandhan in Bihar elections

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who leads a coalition with BJP, will fight for a fourth term in se elections, with opposition RJD and Congress challenging him.  ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) includes Janata Dal-United, BJP, Chirag Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) and former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi's Hindustani Awam Morcha.

In  243-member assembly seat, NDA currently has 131, and Mahagathbandhan has 101 seats (11 seats are vacant). In 2015 assembly polls, CM Nitish Kumar's JDU, n a part of Mahagathbandhan won 71 seats, Lalu Prasad Yadav's RJD won 80 seats, and Congress won 27 seats. BJP which fought elections alone after Kumar in 2013 broke 17-year-old alliance won a mere 53 seats out of 157 contested. However, saffron party came back to power when Kumar ditched Mahagathbandhan and once again stitched an alliance with BJP.

(With ANI inputs)

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