Bihar ph-1 nominations end, but INDIA stand-off doesn't

A total of 1,698 candidates filed their papers for the crucial first phase of the assembly elections in Bihar as the chaotic nomination process for the 121 seats that go to the polls on November 6 closed on Friday with no clarity over a seat deal among the constituents of the Opposition Grand Alliance.

- HT Correspondent

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar speaks at an election rally in support of JD(U) candidate Bhagwan Singh Kushwaha in Ara on Friday.

(HT)

Leaders crisscrossed the state through the day as they rushed to home districts and subdivisional offices to submit their nomination papers after the INDIA bloc appeared to have secured some rough contours of an alliance at midnight on Thursday after days of squabbling. On the final day of nomination, 1,068 candidates filed nominations including Khesari Lal Yadav, Maithili Thakur and ministers Mangal Pandey, Prem Kumar and Renu Devi. In several seats, there was more than one candidate from the INDIA bloc.

In the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), where the seat deal was announced a week ago but some differences remained over choice of constituencies, the nomination process was a relatively smoother affair. Close to a dozen top BJP leaders, including the chief ministers of three states and three Union ministers participated in nomination rallies of the party candidates.

“For the future of Bihar, the people have decided that the NDA government is essential. If the NDA remains in power, peace will prevail, and development and progress will be achievable. I believe our alliance will win close to 200 seats,” Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal said.

There was no clarity at the time of going to print exactly what the break-up of seats in the Grand Alliance would look like.

But on Friday, Mukesh Sahani of the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) announced on X that his party will contest 15 seats. The Congress named its candidates on 48 seats and filed nominations for 40 more across the two phases. The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), which had been informally allotting its symbols to hopefuls, filed nominations in 40 seats, and the Left parties in six seats.