Tejashwi Yadav, plans to target ruling coalition for its handling of coronavirus and migrant crisis
New Delhi:
The Grand Alliance of Bihar appears to have reached a consensus on the division of seats ahead of the three-phase State Assembly elections, starting on October 28.
Of the 243 seats, Congress is likely to fight the election out of 70 seats, three of which were allocated to the CPIM. According to sources, 143 seats have been awarded to Rashtriya Janata Dal of Lalu Yadav; Mukesh Sahani’s Vikassheel Insaan party is likely to get 10-12, and 28-30 seats have landed in the CPM quota.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who heads an in-state coalition with the BJP, hopes to win a fourth term with the RJD opposition of jailed former chief minister Lalu Yadav and Congress – his partners in the last election – defying him.
The opposition, led by Lalu Yadav’s son Tejashwi Yadav, plans to target the ruling coalition for its handling of the coronavirus crisis and the migrant crisis, in addition to flooding in the state. The centre’s controversial farm bills, passed in parliament despite opposition protests, have also armed Tejashwi Yadav with a campaign pitch to target what he calls an “anti-farm” government.
Bihar is due to elect a new assembly of 243 members in three phases on October 28, November 3 and 7.
Voting will take place from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. instead of 5:00 a.m. Covid patients, suspects and people in quarantine will vote separately and there will be no physical contact during meetings and rallies, said the Chief Electoral Officer, Sunil Arora. Voters must use masks and gloves. The number of phases has also been reduced by five to minimize infection. “COVID-19 patients can vote in the last hour of the day,” he added.
