Bihar polls: Nearly 55% turnout in final phase; action shifts to November 10

Bihar on Saturday recorded a voter turnout of around 55 per cent during the third and final phase of polls. The voting in this phase was held in 78 constituencies spread across 15 districts of north Bihar, Seemanchal and Kosi region of the state.

As per an assessment, like the previous two phases, the final phase too is considered crucial for the ruling NDA led by JD(U) and the grand alliance comprising of RJD, Congress and Left parties.

However, the entry of parties like LJP, Asaduddin Owaisi’s AIMIM and Pappu Yadav’s JAP has made the fight triangular in most of the seats.

Chirag Paswan, who had pulled out of the NDA citing ideological differences with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar ahead of seat-sharing arrangement, emerged as a third force and fielded candidates on 42 seats, mostly against the JD(U) and Hindustani Awam Morcha during the third phase of polls.

Political analysts believe that the NDA, as well as the grand alliance, are also set to witness a tough fight in the Muslim dominated Seemanchal region where AIMIM has a visible influence and has fielded 15 candidates.

"Asaduddin Owaisi’s party AIMIM has a visible influence on some of the seats in the Seemanchal region. The party may cut votes and cause a major dent to the NDA as well as the grand alliance in this phase of polls," political observers said.

Similarly, Pappu Yadav’s JAP is also likely to make the contest tough for NDA and grand alliance in the Kosi region where Yadavs and Backwards are the deciding factors. Pappu Yadav has contested from Madhepura.

1,204 candidates are in the fray for the 78 assembly seats, out of which the RJD had fielded a maximum 46 candidates, followed by LJP 42, JD(U) 37, BJP 35, Congress 25, RLSP 25, BSP 20, AIMIM 16, VIP 5, CPI-ML 5, CPI 2 and HAM one seat.

In 2015 polls, the JD(U), as part of the grand alliance,  had won 23 out of 78 seats in the third phase of polls followed by BJP 20, RJD 20, Congress 11 and others four seats.

In the previous two phases, the voter’s turnout was 54.26 and 54.05 per cent respectively. The results for all three phases will be declared on November 10.

During all the three phases, the BJP under Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed twelve rallies across the state. Besides, UP CM yogi Adityanath also held rallies across the state to campaign for the NDA.

Other central leaders of the BJP, national president JP Nadda, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, MOS Home Nityanand Rai, Union Ministers Giriraj Singh and Ashwini Choubey, also campaigned for the ruling alliance.

In all the three phases, the BJP took the campaign beyond local issues by speaking about the abrogation of Article 370 and Pakistan-backed terror. UP CM Yogi Adityanath took up Ram Temple in Ayodhya and triple talaq while addressing rallies.