Patna, Oct 27 (UNI) Amid Corona pandemic, stage is now set for first of three phased

Bihar Assembly Elections as 2,14, 84,787 electorate would be exercising their franchise

at 31, 380 polling stations in 71 seats tomorrow from 7 AM to 6 PM with shorter duration

in some seats due to security reasons, amid elaborate security arrangements to decide

the fate of 1066 candidates, with Nitish led NDA and Tejaswi led Grand Alliance, emerging

as main power contenders for the next term.

After slight uncertainties over possibility of holding scheduled Bihar Assembly Elections

due to prevailing Corona pandemic following demands from almost all opposition parties

and LJP a part of ruling NDA at the Centre, to defer the Elections for few months in larger

interest of protecting lives of people,

Election Commission ultimately cleared mist by announcing detailed programme of Bihar

Assembly Elections. Stage is now set for first of the three phased polling tomorrow with

2,14,84,787 electorate including 1,01,32,434 female voters would be exercising their

franchise amid fool proof security arrangements to decide the fate of 1066 candidates.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is the CM face of NDA, who has been at the helm

of affairs since 2005 barring a period of few months from May 2014 to 2015 when

Mr Jeetan Ram Manjhi was Chief Minister while Mr Tejaswi Prasad Yadav is the CM face

of Grand Alliance.

Both NDA and Grand Alliance are the main power contenders while RLSP chief Upendra

Kushwaha is leading a newly floated Grand Democratic Secular Front (GDSF) and Jan

Adhikar Party leader Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav has also floated a new front

Progressive Democratic Alliance (PDA) comprising few smaller parties.

While NDA with its constituents of JD(U), BJP, Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) and

Vikassheel Insan Party( VIP) has galvanised all its energy under the leadership of Mr Kumar,

Grand Alliance compromising RJD, Congress, CPI(ML), CPI and CPI(M), have solidly put

their weights behind Tejaswi Prasad Yadav.

Of the total 1066 candidates in the fray in first phase of Bihar Assembly Elections, the ruling

JD(U) has fielded 35 candidates followed by BJP which has fielded 29 candidates. HAM and

VIP has fielded 6 candidates and 1 candidate respectively.

On the other hand Grand Alliance constituents RJD has fielded 42 seats while Congress and

CPI(ML) have fielded 21 and 8 seats respectively. LJP is contesting 41 seats, BSP- 27

seats and RLSP is contesting 40 seats.

In first phase, where the polling would be held in in 71 seats, 25 are in Kitty of RJD, 23 in

JD(U), 13 in BJP, 08 in Congress and one seat each in Kitty of Ham and CPI(ML)

respectively. Maximum number of 27 candidates are trying their luck in Gaya Town

constituency while minimum number of five candidates including four women are contesting

in Katoria constituency. A total number of 31, 380 booths had been set for first phase of

polling.

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