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Patna, Nov 5 (IANS) Several high-profile candidates are in the fray for the first phase of Bihar assembly elections on Thursday in 121 constituencies across 18 districts of the state.
A total of 1,314 candidates are in the fray in this phase and many high-profile leaders are contesting the elections.
Sixteen ministers of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s cabinet are contesting the elections to retain their seats.
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav and his brother and Janashakti Janata Dal chief Tej Pratap Yadav are also trying hard to retain their seats.
Campaigning for the first phase ended on Tuesday evening. Now all eyes are on polling day, especially in star-profile constituencies where a tough contest is expected.
In the first phase, voting will be held in Madhepura, Saharsa, Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur, Gopalganj, Siwan, Saran, Vaishali, Samastipur, Begusarai, Khagaria, Munger, Lakhisarai, Shekhpura, Nalanda, Patna, Bhojpur and Buxar.
Of the 16 ministers contesting in this phase, 11 are from BJP quota and five from JDU quota. His performance is being seen as a direct test of the government’s credibility, governance record and organizational strength.
Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary is contesting from Tarapur in Munger district. He is contesting against RJD’s Arun Kumar Shah, while Jan-Suraj candidate Santosh Kumar Singh and Jantantrik Janata Dal’s Sukhdev Yadav are also in the fray, making the contest multi-cornered.
Raghopur assembly constituency of Vaishali is considered to be Tejashwi’s family stronghold.
Tejashwi will face NDA candidate Satish Yadav, while Jan Suraj’s Chanchal Kumar is emerging as a third front factor.
Mokama (Patna Rural) is in the news for the murder of Dularchand Yadav and the arrest of Anant Singh.
JD-U’s Anant Singh versus RJD’s Veena Devi – both linked to influential political families – is a high-stakes straight fight.
Folk singer Maithili Thakur (BJP) is contesting from Alinagar (Darbhanga). His competition is against RJD’s Vinod Mishra. Thakur’s popularity in Mithilanchal is an important factor to watch.
Bhojpuri superstar Khesari Lal Yadav (RJD) is contesting from Chhapra Assembly constituency in Saran district against the BJP’s Chhoti Kumari and Independent Rakhi Gupta.
Deputy CM Vijay Kumar Sinha wants his third consecutive victory against Congress’s Amresh Kumar in Lakhisarai.
BJP has fielded Kundan Kumar against Congress candidate Amita Bhushan in Begusarai assembly constituency. Caste arithmetic remains important here.
BJP’s Nitin Nabin is once again in the fray from this urban dominated seat in Patna’s Bakipur assembly constituency.
–IANS
AJK/SVN