Photo Credit: The Suncity News
Patna, Mat 30, 2024: Campaigning for the seventh and final phase of the Lok Sabha elections in Bihar ended at 5 pm on Thursday, with rallies, roadshows, and public meetings drawing to a close across eight constituencies—Arrah, Buxar, Karakat, Sasaram, Patliputra, Patna, Sahib, Nalanda, and Jehanabad—where polling will be held on June 1.
BJP and CPI-ML are contesting on the Arrah Lok Sabha seat in this election:
In Arrah, Union Minister R. K. Singh is contesting on a BJP ticket, while CPI-ML’s Sudama Prasad is the Grand Alliance candidate. Political observers consider the contest tough this time due to shifting social equations.
In Buxar, the BJP has replaced Union Minister Ashwini Choubey with Mithilesh Tiwari, while the RJD has fielded Sudhakar Singh, son of state president Jagadanand Singh. The entry of former IPS officer Anand Mishra as an independent candidate is expected to cut into the BJP’s Brahmin vote bank, while Dadan Pehelwan, another independent, may affect RJD’s Yadav votes.
In Sasaram (reserved), both BJP and Congress have replaced their 2019 candidates. The BJP has fielded Shivesh Ram instead of Chhedi Paswan, while Congress has given the ticket to Manoj Ram, replacing Meira Kumar.
In Karakat, NDA has fielded Upendra Kushwaha, while CPI-ML’s Rajaram Singh Kushwaha represents the Grand Alliance. The entry of Bhojpuri star Pawan Singh as an independent has made the fight triangular. Several Bhojpuri film personalities, including Khesari Lal Yadav, have campaigned for him.
In Patliputra, the high-profile contest continues between BJP’s Eam Kripal Yadav and RJD’s Misa Bharti. Ram Kripal defeated Misa in both 2014 and 2019, and another close contest is anticipated.
In Patna Sahib, BJP’s Ravi Shankar Prasad faces Congress’s Anshul Avijit, son of former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar. Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a roadshow here on May 12, while Rahul Gandhi addressed a rally in support of Anshul Avijit.
In Nalanda, JDU’s Kaushalendra Kumar is again in the fray, facing CPI-ML’s Sandeep Saurabh from the Grand Alliance. The seat is considered a prestige battle for Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, as JDU has consistently retained it for several terms.
In Jehanabad, RJD’s Surendra Prasad Yadav once again faced JDU’s Chandreshwar Chandravanshi, who defeated him in 2019 by a narrow margin of just 1, 751 votes. Former MP Arun Kumar Singh of the BSP is also contesting, adding a third dimension to the race.
Voting will be held on June 1:
With campaigning now over, all eyes are on June 1, when voters across these eight constituencies will decide the final chapter of Bihar’s electoral battle in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Also Read: The newlywed couple attracted attention at a polling center in Bihar’s Jamui Lok Sabha constituency.
EOM.