121 SEATS IN 18 DISTRICTS: HIGH-STAKES BATTLES TO MARK FIRST PHASE OF BIHAR ELECTIONS

With just a few days left for the first phase of the Bihar Assembly elections, political activity has reached fever pitch across the state.

- TIKAM SHARMA

Leaders from the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Opposition Grand Alliance (Mahagathbandhan, or MGB) are making a final push to woo voters in constituencies going to the polls on November 6. Following the conclusion of the Chhath festival earlier last week, the MGB unveiled its joint election manifesto, highlighting priorities such as employment generation, healthcare, education, and social welfare. Meanwhile, the NDA released a comprehensive 25-point manifesto focused on job creation, women's empowerment, and major investments in agriculture, health, and infrastructure—promising an employment-driven growth model for Bihar.

In this first phase, 16 ministers from Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's government are contesting—11 from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and five from the Janata Dal United (JDU).

Voting will be held across 121 constituencies in 18 districts, where a direct contest is expected between the ruling NDA and the Opposition I.N.D.I.A bloc.

Districts such as Muzaffarpur, Kurhani, Mahnar, and Bahadur are witnessing the highest number of contestants, adding intensity to the electoral battle.

According to the Election Commission, 1,690 nominations were filed between October 10 and 17, of which 135 were rejected on technical grounds. The BJP has fielded the largest number of candidates, followed by the RJD, Congress, Left parties, and other regional outfits, leading to multi-cornered contests in several constituencies.