Muzaffarpur: Election campaigning in Bihar has intensified after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) appointed union minister Dharmendra Pradhan to lead its campaign in the state, while violent clashes broke out at a National Democratic Alliance (NDA) workers’ rally in Muzaffarpur on Thursday.
The BJP said Pradhan would serve as the party’s election in-charge, with Gujarat BJP president CR Patil and Uttar Pradesh deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya named as co-in-charges. The announcement was made by BJP media cell head Sanjay Mayukh.
Pradhan, who was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Bihar in 2012, is regarded as a key strategist in the BJP’s landslide 2014 general election victory. He has often mediated between the BJP and its ally Janata Dal (United), with political observers citing his close relationship with chief minister Nitish Kumar and his knowledge of Bihar’s political terrain as crucial to the NDA campaign.
The appointment came as violence marred an NDA workers’ meeting in Muzaffarpur. Supporters of rival candidates from the JD(U) and the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) clashed at the Jaranag High School ground, with slogans giving way to physical confrontations. The dispute reportedly stemmed from a long-running tussle over ticket distribution between JD(U)’s Prabhat Kiran, son of former MLA Maheshwar Prasad Yadav, and Komal Singh, daughter of MLC Dinesh Singh and MP Veena Devi, a former LJP candidate.
The confrontation spilled onto the stage, where Kiran and Singh exchanged heated words before party workers overturned chairs and tables. Several leaders were heckled, and at least 12 people were injured before order was restored.
Meanwhile, speculation over election dates continues to grow. The Election Commission has instructed the Bihar government to complete all transfers of officials by October 6, ruling that no officer should be posted in their home district and mandating the transfer of officials whose three-year tenure ends by November 30. The commission has also demanded a compliance report by the deadline.
An Election Commission team led by the chief election commissioner is expected to visit Bihar soon. With the Nitish Kumar government’s term due to expire on November 22, observers anticipate that the election schedule will be announced shortly after October 6.
Separately, the state government has reduced the security cover of Purnia MP Pappu Yadav, which had been enhanced as recently as August.
