Curtains on battle for Bihar today

Grand alliance has an edge as Muslims, Yadavs dominate the north-east region of the State.

The crucial Bihar battle will enter its fifth and final round on Thursday when voters will exercise their franchise for 57 seats across nine districts of the Seemanchal-Kosi-Mithilanchal region. With the area largely dominated by Muslim and Yadav vote-banks, this round of poll appears to be tilted towards the grand alliance than the BJP-led NDA.

In this phase, the impact of AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi and Jan Adhikar Party leader and expelled RJD MP from Madhepura, Pappu Yadav, too would be put to the test. Mr. Owaisi had earlier created a buzz among Muslim voters of Seemanchal, especially in Kishanganj district, when he declared that his party would contest all the 24 seats in Seemanchal, but later limited it to just six seats. Similarly, JAP leader Pappu Yadav, strongman of Kosi area too fielded party candidates under the “third front” coalition to make the poll a triangular contest.

It was said that both Asaduddin Owaisi and Pappu Yadav have been “prompted” by the BJP to make a dent in the vote-banks of the grand alliance in Seemanchal and Kosi areas, which they have both refuted.

Underdeveloped belt

This part of north-east Bihar is also known for its poverty, underdevelopment and mass migration. Perennial flood inundate the Kosi and Seemanchal areas nearly every year.

Of the 57 seats going to polls on Thursday, the JD(U) has put up candidates in 25 seats, the RJD 21 while the Congress has fielded 11 candidates. In NDA camp, the BJP has put up 38 candidates while it allies LJP, RLSP and HAM(S) have fielded 11, 5 and 3 candidates. In the last phase, the BJP has high stakes largely in 20 seats of two districts of Mithilanchal: Darbhanga and Madhubani. However, in 37 seats in Yadav-dominated Kosi and Muslim-dominated Seemanchal areas, the grand alliance appeared to be in comfortable position. Criss-crossing the Kosi and Seemanchal areas recently,

The Hindu had found out though Pappu Yadav and Asaduddin Owaisi had pulled crowds, especially the youth, to their poll meetings, they have failed to ensure votes for their party candidates. “We’ll wait and watch him in this election and may vote for him next time. This time our first choice is Nitish Kumar,” was the echo of Muslim voters in Purnea and Kishanganj.