Campaign ends for Bhagalpur and Nalanda

Patna, Nov 4: Campaigning for the Bhagalpur and Nalanda Lok Sabha constituencies ended peacefully at 1600 today.

The by-election is scheduled for November 6.

The ruling coalition NDA has a lot at stake in both seats which witnessed hectic campaigning during the past 15 days.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar conducted whirlwind tour in Nalanda for his party candidate Ramswaroop Prasad. The BJP too, with the support of Mr Kumar, left no stone unturned to ensure the victory of former Union Minister Shahnawaz Hussain, who is facing a triangular contest in Bhagalpur.

Accompanied by Cabinet colleagues of his party, Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, who had vacated the seat, campaigned for Mr Hussain.

Both seats were in the NDA's fold as Nalanda was represented by Mr Kumar and Bhagalpur by Mr Modi. Both vacated their constituencies after being elected to the State Assembly.

Several national leaders of the Left parties, including Sitaram Yechuri of CPI(M) and D.Raja of CPI besides, Union Minister Ramvilas Paswan of the LJP and Tariq Anwar of the NCP jointly toured the constituencies in favour of the Left nominees. The CPI has fielded Gaya Singh in Nalanda while Subodh Rai is contesting from Bhagalpur.

Taking a separate line, Opposition RJD, a prominent alliance partner in the UPA at the Centre, had fielded Shakuni Choudhry in Bhagalpur while it is supporting JD(U) rebel candidate Arun Kumar contesting independently from Nalanda.

During their visit Mr Paswan, Mr Yechuri, Mr Raja and Mr Anwar had held RJD Chief and Railway Minister Lalu Prasad resposnible for the possible split in secular votes in both the constituencies.

Development remains the prime poll plank for the NDA while the Opposition tried to woo voters with promises to keep the communal forces at bay. Altogether 12,77,298 voters, including 594,772 women, would decide the fate of eight candidates at 1490 polling booths in Nalanda, while 14,39,127 voters, including 672,356 women, would exercise their franchise at 1572 booths and seal the future of 13 candidates in Bhagalpur constituency.

Sources at the state election office said all booths would be covered by the Central Para Military Forces (CPMF). This apart, Bihar Military Police (BMP) and district police would be deployed to hold free, fair and peaceful polling which would start at 0700 hrs and end at 1600 hrs on November 6.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission had issued a circular allowing the voters to use 17 different alternatives as I card for exercising their franchise. These include passports, driving licence, service I card, PAN card, bank account numbers, students' I card among others.

UNI