Bihar polls: Dust finally settles on high-pitched campaign

Modi wrapped up his campaign blitzkrieg a day before polls ended by raking up the issue of 1984 anti-Sikh riots to mount a counter-offensive on Congress president Sonia Gandhi. During the rally, Modi said that she has no moral right to lecture NDA on tolerance and the party should “hang its head in shame” over the carnage.

Modi, who addressed around 30 election rallies, unusual for a Prime Minister in a state poll, repeatedly refer to alleged attempts made by the grand alliance to “snatch away” a part of the quotas meant for the Dalits, the tribals, and the backward classes, and give it to a “particular community on the basis of religion”.

In the final phase, elections will be held for 57 seats, including 24 in the Seemanchal region bordering West Bengal. The Assembly segments are spread over nine districts of Madhubani, Darbhanga, Supual, Madhepura, Saharsa, Araria, Kisanganj, Purnea, and Katihar. The result will be declared on November 8.