Patna: As the dust settles after days of high-pitched rallies and roadshows, the campaign for the first phase of Bihar Assembly elections drew to a close this evening. Silence now descends on 121 constituencies across 18 districts, which will go to polls on November 6.
With loudspeakers switched off, political workers hit the lanes and bylanes for a final door-to-door blitz, distributing pamphlets and making last-minute appeals to voters in both rural and urban areas.
Top leaders from the BJP, JD(U), RJD, and Congress wrapped up their rallies across the state today, each making fervent pitches to sway undecided voters.
In Darbhanga, Union Home Minister Amit Shah vowed that the NDA government would build Kaushal Vikas Kendras in every district, set up new factories, and develop ten industrial parks. He also announced plans to establish a defence corridor in Bihar, similar to those in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also joined the BJP’s campaign trail, canvassing for Minister Sanjay Saraogi in Darbhanga.
Meanwhile, RJD leader Misa Bharti claimed the Mahagathbandhan was witnessing “tremendous support,” focusing on issues of youth, women, jobs, and inflation. RJD MP Manoj Jha added that their campaign had struck a strong chord with voters.
At a rally in Triveniganj (Supaul), JD(U) chief and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar highlighted his government’s two-decade-long focus on women’s empowerment, saying over 1.4 crore women have been linked with self-help groups under the Jeevika programme. He also cited the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rozgar Yojana, under which women received ₹10,000 each to promote self-reliance.
Campaigning in Patna, BJP leader Smriti Irani took a swipe at the RJD, saying its “anti-women face” had been exposed. She added that while the NDA has been empowering women financially, the opposition’s protests to the Election Commission over women’s schemes reflect its “insecurity.”
RJD’s CM candidate Tejashwi Yadav, addressing supporters in Patna, promised that under a Mahagathbandhan government, PACS and Vyapar Mandal presidents would get public representative status. He also pledged bonuses of ₹300 per quintal on paddy and ₹400 on wheat over the Minimum Support Price.
Elsewhere, Jan Suraj founder Prashant Kishor held a spirited roadshow in Arrah, rallying support for his candidates.
The Bihar Assembly polls will be held in two phases — the first on November 6 and the second on November 11. Counting of votes is scheduled for November 14.
