Campaigning ends for first phase Bihar election

The 71 assembly constituencies that vote on October 28 fall in six districts, including Naxal-hit Gaya, Rohtas and Aurangabad. Altogether 1,066 candidates are in the fray for the first phase of the Bihar Assembly elections and 114 of them are female candidates.

Patna: The election campaigning for the first phase of the high-decibel Bihar Assembly Elections ended on Monday evening. Voters from 71 assembly segments in Bihar will go to the election booths on October 28, in the first phase of elections.

The 71 constituencies going to vote fall in six districts, including Naxal-hit Gaya, Rohtas and Aurangabad. Altogether 1,066 candidates are in the fray for the first phase of the Bihar Assembly elections and 114 of them are female candidates.

Among the prominent parties, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) is contesting on 42 of the 71 seats in the first phase, Janta Dal (United) (JDU) candidates are contesting in 41 constituencies, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has fielded candidates in 29 seats, Congress in 21 seats and LJP nominees are in the fray at 41 places.

Voting in the first phase will decide the fate of ministers Prem Kumar, Jay Kumar Singh, Santosh Kumar Nirala, Vijay Sinha and Ram Narayan Mandal in the Nitish Kumar led government.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had flown down to address as many as three rallies. He urged the voters to vote Chief Minister Nitish Kumar back to power.

Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi, whose party is contesting the elections in alliance with Lalu Prasad's RJD and three Left parties, had also campaigned ahead of the polls.