Patna, Nov 10 – Bihar’s assembly elections are back on, with the second‑phase voting set for Tuesday across 122 seats in 20 districts.
More than 1,300 candidates are in the running, among them nine sitting ministers and 15 former ministers, sparking a series of high‑profile showdowns.
On at least five seats Mahagathbandhan partners are fighting each other, while families of senior leaders also throw their names into the mix. Upendra Kushwaha’s wife Snehlata is contesting Sasaram, Jitan Ram Manjhi’s daughter‑in‑law Deepa is in Imamganj, and Jyoti Devi, Manjhi’s sister‑in‑law, is up for Barachatti.
These contests carry both personal and symbolic weight for the parties. There are 45,399 polling booths for this stage, with seven flagged as “hyper‑sensitive” and extra security in place.
Nine ministers from Nitish Kumar’s cabinet are also voting this week, facing anti‑incumbency pressure. Their constituencies – from Supaul and Chakai to Gaya and Phulparas – will be crucial headlines for the BJP‑led alliance.
Key Mahagathbandhan figures are also in the fray: former assembly speaker Uday Narayan Chaudhary (RJD), Congress state president Rajesh Ram, Congress legislature leader Shakeel Ahmed Khan, and CPI‑ML leader Mehboob Alam. Their results will test the coalition’s knife‑edge unity and strategy.
The Kargahar seat in Rohtas district is a buzz‑worthy focus. Jan Suraaj Party veteran Prashant Kishor hails from this area, and the party has nominated Bhojpuri singer Ritesh Pandey. The incumbent, Santosh Mishra, runs again on a Congress ticket, and CPI has added a third contender, creating a three‑way race.
Other close battles are expected in Narkatiaganj, Chainpur, Kahalgaon, Sultanganj and Jamui (Sikandra). Many of these seats see Mahagathbandhan allies clashing in what could turn into multi‑cornered contests.
As Bihar moves into its second election phase, voters and analysts alike are watching to see which coalition can hold its ground and how the mix of familial ties, party rivalries, and strategic booth control will play out.
Source: ianslive
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