By Avijit Biswas and Neeraj Kumar
Patna, May 24: There would be much at stake for both BJP and JD (U) in last two phases of polling for parliamentary seats in state taking into consideration all the sixteen constituencies where polling is scheduled respectively in sixth and seventh phases, the seating representative of the constituencies are either BJP or JD(U) candidates.
With chances of electoral battle ending in close finish in all the constituencies where polling would be held in last two phases, retaining the seats could be litmus test for both major NDA constituents.
PM Narendra Modi who has been spearheading NDA campaign in state has so far addressed half a dozen election meetings and also held road show in state capital. From his busy schedule PM had also taken time off to visit party office at state capital for interacting and motivating party workers.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also actively involved in election campaign has addressed series of election meetings. In fact, NDA leaders are leaving no stone unturned to ensure alliance is able to bag all the seats in last two phases of polling in state.
However, trends of previous phases of polling in state suggesting fierce battle of ballots between NDA and I.N.D.I alliance, any remarkable shift in voting trends in last two phases is unlikely, it is largely felt.
Balmikinagar, West Champaran, East Champaran, Sheohar, Vaishali, Gopalganj, Siwan and Maharajganj are the eight constituencies of state where polling would be held in sixth phase on May 25. Taking together all the eight constituencies total 89 candidates are in fray.
Prominent among contestants whose fate would be decided in sixth phase of polling in state include Dr Sanjay Jaiswal, Radha Mohan Singh, Heena Saheb, Lovely Anand beside others.
Radha Mohan Singh former union minister is BJP candidate from East Champaran constituency. Singh who had represented the constituency for last three successive terms is pitted against Rajesh Kushwaha of VIP.
Dr Sanjay Jaiswal of BJP seeking re-election from West Champaran constituency had also represented the constituency for last three successive terms. Congress party has fielded party candidate Madan Mohan Tiwary against him. Dr Jaiswal had held post of state BJP president earlier.
From Sheohar constituency Lovely Anand, wife of Anand Mohan, a strongman politician is trying her luck on JD (U) ticket. Ritu Jaiswal of RJD is pitted against her. The RJD candidate wife of a former bureaucrat had hogged limelight after being elected as mukhiya in past.
In Vaishali constituency the major party candidates in fray include Munna Shukla of RJD, a don turned politician and Beena Devi of LJP. In Siwan constituency Vijayalaxmi Devi of JD (U) is pitted against Awadh Behari Choudhury of RJD. With Heena Saheb also in fray as independent candidate there is chances of triangular contest at Siwan.
Janardan Singh Sigriwal a senior BJP leader is seeking re-election from Maharajganj constituency. Akash Kumar is contesting against him as congress candidate. In Gopalganj constituency Dr Alok Suman is contesting on JD (U) ticket against Chanchal Paswan of VIP. At Balmikinagar constituency JD (U) candidate Sunil Kushwaha is pitted against Deepak Yadav of RJD.
In seventh phase of election in state the prominent leaders whose fate would be decided include union minister R K Singh, former union ministers Ravi Shanker Prasad, Ram Kripal Yadav, Upendra Kushwaha besides Misa Bharati and Bhojpuri film star Pawan Singh.
Union minister R K Singh, the BJP candidate seeking re-election from Ara constituency had been elected from the constituency in last two successive elections. Sudama Prasad of CPI is contesting against him as I.N.D.I alliance candidate.
Ram Kripal Yadav, BJP candidate seeking re-election from Patliputra Constituency was elected from the constituency in 2019 parliamentary election. Misa Bharati daughter of Lalu Prasad Yadav is contesting against as RJD candidate.
From Patna Saheb Constituency BJP candidate Ravi Shanker Prasad is contesting for second time. He was elected from the constituency in last parliamentary election. Anshul Abhijeet son of former Lok Sabha speaker Meira Kumar has been fielded against him by Congress party.
While Upendra Kushwaha, former union minister is contesting as NDA candidate from Karakat Parliamentary seat the I.N.D.I alliance has fielded Rajaram Singh of CPI (ML) against him. Bhojpuri cine star Pawan Singh is also contesting from the constituency as independent candidate.
At Buxar constituency Mithilesh Tiwary of BJP is pitted against Sudhakar Singh of RJD. Shivesh Ram of BJP is contesting against Manoj Ram of Congress in Sasaram constituency.
In Jehanabad constituency, Chandreswar Chandravansi has been fielded by NDA while Surendra Yadav of RJD is contesting against him as I.N.D.I alliance candidate. Arun Kumar who had earlier represented the constituency is also contesting as independent candidate.
Kaushelendra Kumar of JD (U) who had thrice represented Nalanda Parliamentary constituency is seeking re-election from the constituency. The constituency is considered to be stronghold of chief minister Nitish Kumar. The I.N.D.I alliance has fielded Sandeep Saurav of CPI (ML) against JD (U) candidate.
