Bihar elections: Too many alliances, CM faces may confuse voters

PATNA: As the filing of nomination papers for 71 assembly constituencies going to polls in the first phase ended on Thursday, the battle lines have largely been drawn involving the parties in alliances and outside them. The first phase election in the state will be held on October 28.
However, there is also a huge scope for confusions among the voters, largely due to the presence of the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) led by Chirag Paswan, observers feel.
For people, counting the number of alliances, their respective CM faces and also the parties in the fray have become a curiosity at the tea stalls and in groups.
“What the voters will finally decide during the first phase will be the trend during the remaining two phases. Overall, the fight will be between two big alliances – NDA and Mahagathbandhan,” state BJP spokesman Rajiv Ranjan Prasad said. His observation was echoed by RJD spokesman Mrityunjay Tiwari.
There are two main alliances with each having its own CM face. The NDA, with Nitish Kumar as its CM face, comprises four parties – JD(U), BJP, Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) led by former CM Jitan Ram Manjhi and Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) led by Mukesh Sahani.
Mahagathbandhan, on the other hand, comprises RJD, Congress and three Left parties – CPI(ML), CPM and CPI. Its CM face is Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, younger son of RJD chief Lalu Prasad.
On Thursday, AIMIM led by Asaduddin Owaisi had joined hands with the Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) led by Upendra Kushwaha, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Janwadi Socialist Party (JSP) headed by former MP Devendra Prasad Yadav to float Grand Democratic Secular Front (GDSF).
Further, there is Progressive Democratic Alliance (PDA) led by Jan Adhikar Party chief Pappu Yadav. The GDSF and PDA are considered smaller alliances, as they, barring the lone member of the AIMIM, have no representation in the outgoing state assembly.
The attention, therefore, is on the LJP as it has walked out of the NDA but continues to be in alliance with the BJP. The LJP has not joined hands with any party. It is just opposed to Nitish, and has fielded all its 42 candidates in the first phase against the candidates of the JD(U).
The LJP leader Chirag is the party’s CM face, while Kushwaha has been declared the CM face of the GDSF and Pappu Yadav of the PDA.
“The fight is between two models of governance – the forward looking one that is represented by CM Nitish Kumar and the bleak and backward model of the Mahagathbandhan,” a JD(U) spokesman said.
However, the JD(U) circles appeared concerned that Chirag has fielded 42 candidates against the party nominees in the first phase. “By extension, they will field 122 candidates against the JD(U) and 21 others against the BJP in three phases. Who the LJP is harming?” a JD(U) source asked.