New political parties in Bihar may find it tough contesting the polls

Many parties will be contesting the coming Bihar assembly polls for the first time, trying to make a mark in the political battlefield. As attractive as the prospect sounds, it will not be a cakewalk. The election will also see rivals -- BJP-led NDA and RJD-led grand alliance of opposition parties -- lock horns for the popular vote.

Patna: After the announcement of Bihar assembly election dates by the Election Commission, it is apparent that the main contest is going to be between the BJP-led NDA and RJD-led grand alliance of opposition parties. However, until now the size of these two alliances has not been decided.

At the same time, many new parties and others who have not yet opened accounts in the assembly will also be seen contesting the election. They include the left parties, which had to remain satisfied with few seats in the last couple of elections.

Pappu Yadav’s strength to be tried

Parties who look forward to opening their accounts in the State assembly are Jan Adhikar Party, Vikassheel Insan Party, Janata Dal (Rashtravadi) party, Jantantrik Vikas Party and many others. Former MP Pappu Yadav's Jan Adhikar Party has announced to contest 150 seats in this election. There is no doubt that Pappu Yadav, formerly RJD leader, has his own identity in many areas of Bihar. It is said that he has worked hard in the last five years and won the trust of many people. The moot question is whether he will be able to translate their trust into seats.

People of Bihar upset with both ruling and opposition parties

Pappu Yadav says that the people of Bihar are unhappy with both the ruling party and the opposition and are looking for an alternative. His JVP has announced to field 150 candidates in the election. JVP has a support base in Buxar, Bhojpur and Rohtas districts. Party leaders say that the development that has been claimed in Bihar has been exposed during the coronavirus pandemic and the public is ready to demand an answer from the government.

BSP will contest elections on its own in Bihar

BSP state president Bharat Bind said that the party will contest in all the 243 assembly seats in Bihar. He said that the party does not have an alliance with any other party in Bihar. He clarified that some people are spreading false propaganda that the BSP is in the grand alliance.

AIMIM to contest in 50 seats

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) will contest 50 seats in Bihar. Party state president Akhtarul Iman said that all 50 seats have been identified. Candidates will be selected later. Negotiations are also going on against the BJP and JDU with like-minded parties. It is the responsibility of non-NDA parties to present a strong alternative.

‘Plurals’ party in Bihar poll fray

In Bihar Pushpam Priya Chaudhary is in news these days. Pushpam, who has studied in London, has declared herself as the Chief Ministerial candidate. Pushpam Priya Chaudhary is the daughter of JDU leader Vinod Chaudhary. 'Plurals' party president Pushpam Priya Chaudhary is trying to field clean candidates in every assembly constituency of Bihar. She claims she is in the electoral fray to change the existing system.

Janata Dal (Nationalist)

Former MP Ranjan Yadav, who was with RJD President Lalu Prasad, is in the electoral fray by forming Janata Dal (Nationalist) party. On Friday, party workers showed their strength by taking to the streets to protest against the farm bills. Party leaders say that their party is contesting as a constituent of the Union Democratic Alliance, which is projecting itself as an alternative.

Left parties’ condition no better in Bihar

The condition of left parties is also not considered better in Bihar. In the last election, the Left parties had won only in three seats. In this election, the left parties are preparing to enter the election with the grand alliance of opposition parties. However, the picture is not clear yet. The Left parties are anxious to increase their seat share in this election.

UDSA also in the fray

Former Union Minister and United Democratic Secular Alliance (UDSA) convenor Devendra Prasad Yadav's party is also in the fray. In Bihar, the UDSA will field its candidates in 150 seats. Devendra Prasad Yadav said that the joint democratic secular coalition has been formed by uniting the Rashtriya Adhikar Party and Samyukta Kisan Vikas Party. He said that the people of Bihar now need a new option which we will give.

Public development party

In Bihar, DK Singh of the Private School and Children's Welfare Association announced to contest assembly elections from 243 seats.

Rashtriya Jan Jan Party under the leadership of Ashutosh Kumar

Jan-Jan Party national president Ashutosh Kumar has announced to contest elections on all seats. He said that his party will strive to prevent migration of landless, small and marginal farmers from Bihar. The main objective of our party is to make the farmers of Bihar free from the clutches of middlemen. We will buy grain directly from the farmer on the lines of Punjab at 25 percent increased price.

Janhit Kisan Party will contest in 52 seats

Janhit Kisan Party is also preparing to field candidates on 52 seats in Bihar. Party's national president Chaurasia Shyam Sundar Das says that unemployment growing in Bihar and blamed the government for this and the increasing number of crime.

'Jago Hindustan Party' to contest in 100 seats

Jago Hindustan Party will contest 100 seats. Jago Hindustan Party national president Vidyasagar said that he was roaming around and meeting people. He said that the main issue in this election will be to stop the migration of people from Bihar to other states. The migration will stop if people get employment, education and health facilities in their own state.

'Bharat Jago Janata Party' will enter the field with full power

Bharat Jago Janata Party will field its candidates in 125 assembly seats. Bharat Jago Janata Party national president Vishnu Singh said that his party will not form an alliance with anyone and will take up issues related to the public interest.

Presence of small parties

Actually, the number of small registered parties is increasing in Bihar elections. The number of small parties suddenly increased after 1985. In 1990, there were 23 small parties in the fray. Their number increased to 38 in 1995, 31 in 2000, 40 in 2005 and 72 in 2010. However, these parties could not show much in their electoral performance.

RLSP, HAM, VIP parties failed to make their mark in 2015 election

Now let's look at the situation of small and caste-based parties in Bihar. Nitish Kumar's JDU was part of the anti-BJP grand alliance in the 2015 assembly elections. But, Jitan Ram Manjhi's 'Hum' and former Union Minister Upendra Kushwaha's RLSP joined the NDA. After giving 42 seats to LJP, BJP gave 23 seats to Kushwaha's RLSP and Manjhi's 'HUM' 21 seats to contest. But, Kushwaha's party could win only 2 seats and got 27.50 per cent votes when it was with NDA. Whereas, HUM won only 1 seat and got 26.90 per cent votes. This is the reason why big parties are not ready to give them much importance.