Bihar Election: Tripartite fight in Phase 3 as 78 seats go to polls; Seemanchal in focus

Polling in last phase of Bihar assembly elections will take place on 78 assembly constituencies on Saturday. y are, Valmiki Nagar, Ramnagar (SC), Narkatiaganj, Bagaha, Lauriya, Sikta, Raxaul, Sugauli, Narkatia, Motihari, Chiraia, Dhaka, Riga, Bathnaha (SC), Parihar, Sursand, Bajpatti, Harlakhi, Benipatti, Khajauli, Babubarhi, Bisfi, Laukaha, Nirmali, Pipra, Supaul, Triveniganj (SC), Chhatapur, Narpatganj, Raniganj (SC), Forbesganj, Araria, Jokihat, Sikti, Bahadurganj, Thakurganj, Kishanganj, Kochadhaman, Amour, Baisi, Kasba, Banmankhi (SC), Rupauli, Dhamdaha, Purnia , Katihar, Kadwa, Balrampur, Pranpur, Manihari (ST), Barari, Korha (SC), Alamnagar, Bihariganj, Singheshwar (SC), Madhepura, Sonbarsha (SC), Saharsa, Simri Bakhtiarpur, Mahishi, Darbhanga, Hayaghat, Bahadurpur, Keoti, Jale, Gaighat, Aurai, Bochahan (SC), Sakra (SC), Kurhani, Muzaffarpur, Mahua, Patepur (SC), Kalyanpur (SC), Warisnagar, Samastipur, Morwa, Sarairanjan. Here are key contests to look for among se constituencies: 

Madhepura

Stitching an alliance - Progressive Democratic Alliance (PDA) - with Chandrashekhar Azad's Azad Samaj Party, MK Faizi's Social Democratic Party and Bahujan Mukti Party - former Madhepura MP and Jan Adhikar Party (JAP) head Pappu Yadav has presented himself as CM candidate in this year's election. He is contesting from Madhepura constituency against JDU's Nikhil Mandal and RJS's Chandrasekhar. Infamous for being accused in 1998 CPI(M) leader Ajit Sarkar’s murder case, Pappu Yadav who has w been acquitted is looking to make a comeback in Bihar's political scenario and has been visible on ground during Bihar floods. Previously, Yadav had also contested on RJD ticket from Madhepura.  In 2019 Lok Sabha elections, he was third in position and his wife Ranjeet Ranjan who is in Congress lost Supaul seat from where she was a three-time MP.

Bihariganj

Sharad Yadav's daughter - Subhashini Raj Rao - who joined Congress party just ahead of polls, is contesting from Bihariganj and is pitted against against two times JD(U) MLA Niranjan Mehta, Lok Janshakti Party candidate Vijay Kumar Singh and Prabhash Kumar of led Janadhikar Party (JAP). Though seat is  tested turf of Madhepura, her far lost two previous Lok Sabha polls from here. However, Rao is banking on her far's popularity as  election posters in constituency introduces her as Subhashini ‘Sharad Yadav’.

Saharsa

party in this year's poll have shied away from fielding musclemen. From Saharsa, don-turned-politician Anand Mohan Singh's wife is contesting on a RJD ticket. She is pitted against BJP's Alok Ranjan Jha who won seat in 2010. In 2005, Sanjeev Kumar Jha from BJP had defeated RJD's Shankar Prasad Tekriwal. However, in 2015, RJD stalwart Arun Kumar Yadav won by a margin of over 39,000 votes. Prime Miniter Modi wrapped up his Bihar election rally in Saharsa and came down heavily on RJD and opposers of 'Bharat mata ki jai' and 'jai shri ram'.

Sarairanjan

Sitting MLA Vijay Kumar Choudhary - who is current Speaker of assembly and a close confidant of CM Nitish is contesting from Sarairanjan seat in Samastipur district as a JDU candidate. Choudhary is pitted against Arvind Kumar Sahni of RJD. Choudhary is a five-term MLA from Sarairanjan and it remains to be seen if party will retain seat after numerous camapign trails of RJD's Tejashwi Yadav in district.

Sikti

RJD has fielded Shatrughan Mandal from Sikti assembly constituency, situated in Araria district, whereas sitting MLA Vijay Mandal will defend seat for BJP. seat is one of 20 constituencies where BJP and RJD are in a direct contest. In 2015, Vijay Mandal had defeated Suman by 8,106 votes. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Forbesganj (Araria district) on last day of his election campaigning enlisted works of Nitish led government. However, seat has a large presence of Yadav and Muslim voters - vote bank of RJD. 

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Keoti

Abdul Bari Siddiqui, a former MP and minister of finance during Mahagathbandhan government, is contesting from Keoti assembly seat as an RJD minee. He has been challenged by BJP’s Murari Mohan Jha. Abdul Bari became an MLA in 1977 for first time from Bahera constituency.

Kishanganj

constituency becomes crucial as it was first seat where AIMIM made an entry in Bihar after its candidate won seat. As many as 20 candidates are in fray but fight is between AIMIM's Kamrul Hoda, Congress' Izrahul Hussain and BJP's Sweety Singh. A mirity-dominated seat - in 2010 and 2015 Congress candidate Javed Azad had won in assembly polls  but his mor lost seat in Lok Sabha polls. 

Citizenship Amendment Act has been a poll campaign issue in area with Muslim population. AIMIM chief Owaisi has spoken openly about it and addressing a rally in Kochadhaman constituency on last day of campaign,  Bihar CM Nitish Kumar sought to allay fears about Citizenship Amendment Act. Taking a veiled dig at opposition for spreading rumours in this regard, he asserted that Indian will lose his citizenship. Kumar made it clear that person shall be thrown out of country as it is being alleged.

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Amour

Muslim-dominated Amour that falls in Kishanganj Lok Sabha seat will witness a fight between AIMIM, JDU and Congress. Congress has fielded sitting MLA Abdul Jalil Mastan as its candidate - who had won seat six times. BJP has fielded Saba Zafar who defeated him in 2010. In 2015, Mastan won by a huge margin of 51,997 votes against Zafar. contest becomes tripartite as AIMIM's state chief Akhtarul Iman is also in fray. Iman was a two-time RJD MLA and has also been a part of  JDU) in past, till he joined AIMIM in 2015. 

Bihar Elections 2020

Polling in 71 seats in first phase and 94 seats in second phase of Bihar assembly elections has been completed with voter turut at 54.26 percent and 54.05 percent respectively. third phase is on vember 7, and results will be anunced on vember 10. 

Incumbent Nitish Kumar is seeking reelection and is CM face for NDA. Mahagathbandhan has chosen Tejashwi Yadav as ir CM face. BJP is contesting on a seat-sharing formula of 121-122 seats with JDU and Mukesh Sahni of Vikasheel Insaan party and Jitan Ram Manjhi of HAM(S), while LJP will contest solo. Mahagathbandhan comprising of Congress and three left parties have are contesting on seat-sharing formula of 144-70-29 seats respectively. 

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re are two or alliances in fray - Owaisi's AIMIM has stitched an alliance with Upendra Kushwaha-led RLSP, Mayawati's BSP, Devendra Yadav's SJDD, and SBSP called 'Grand Democratic Secular Front'.  alliance has fielded Kushwaha as  chief ministerial face. Ar alliance named 'Progressive Democratic Alliance (PDA)', consist of Pappu Yadav's Jan Adhikar Party (JAP), Chandrashekhar Azad's Azad Samaj Party, MK Faizi's Social Democratic Party and Bahujan Mukti Party. y have made Pappu Yadav ir CM face.

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