Bihar’s Third Phase Lok Sabha Polls: Campaigning Concludes Amidst Fierce Rivalry

Patna: The campaign for the third phase of Lok Sabha elections in Bihar concluded on Sunday, setting the stage for a crucial electoral showdown in five constituencies where the fate of 54 candidates hangs in the balance ahead of the May 7th polls.

Araria, Supaul, Jhanjharpur, Madhepura, and Khagaria, all currently held by the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), will witness voting in this phase.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP-led coalition’s star campaigner, rallied supporters in Araria, seeking to bolster the prospects of party MP Pradeep Singh’s reelection bid. Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held rallies in Jhanjharpur and Supaul, respectively.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, representing the NDA ally Janata Dal (United), crisscrossed all five constituencies, rallying support for the alliance candidates.

Notably, three of the contested constituencies, Supaul, Jhanjharpur, and Madhepura, are currently held by the JD(U), which has fielded incumbent MPs for these seats.

BJP President JP Nadda addressed election meetings in Araria and Khagaria, the latter being contested by the Lok Janshakti Party led by Chirag Paswan.

In contrast, opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) campaigned vigorously across all five seats, even in Khagaria and Jhanjharpur, despite his party not contesting in these constituencies.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) maintained a low profile in Khagaria, their sole contesting seat in Bihar. However, their alliance with the RJD and Congress, which collectively control four of the six assembly segments in Khagaria, suggests a competitive edge for the party.

In Jhanjharpur, the fledgling Vikassheel Insan Party, led by former Bihar minister Mukesh Sahni, vied for support alongside Tejashwi Yadav, particularly banking on the Nishad community’s votes to bolster the opposition’s chances in the state.