Cong intensifies campaign; Rahul to address 9 rallies

<g data-gr-id="61">Conress</g> vice-president Rahul Gandhi will address nine election rallies in Bihar, including two in crucial Seemanchal region, where Asaduddin Owaisi’s Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) threatens to upset the secular grand alliance of JD(U), RJD and Congress that is locked in a tough battle against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

As per the programme, Congress president Sonia Gandhi will also address at least four rallies during the party’s month-long campaign, which will start on October 3 from Bhagalpur.

Sources in the party said there may be some additions in the number of rallies addressed by these leaders as per the demand of the state unit. At present, they are scheduled to address 13 rallies altogether.

Rahul will be holding public meetings on October 7, 26 and 30. He is scheduled to address three rallies <g data-gr-id="49">everyday</g>.

On October 7, he will be in Begusarai, Sheikhpura and Kaimur near Sasaram, followed by West Champaran, East Champaran and Sitamarhi on October 26, and Kishanganj and Katihar in the Seemanchal region on October 30. Voting will take place in Kishanganj and Katihar in the last phase on November <g data-gr-id="51">5,</g> when the maximum of 57 constituencies <g data-gr-id="50">go</g> to polls on a single day. Both the districts have a large Muslim population, which is expected to play a decisive role in the poll results.

The election results from <g data-gr-id="48">Seemanchal</g> region have always played a key role in government formation in the state. <g data-gr-id="47">This time</g> Owaisi is making a debut in Bihar polls and has chosen to field candidates, including rebels from established parties, in the Seemanchal region, which threatens to ruin the prospects of the grand alliance.

Besides, NCP’s Tariq Anwar, Katihar MP, has been named as the Chief Ministerial candidate of the Samajwadi Party (SP)-led third front of six parties that includes Pappu Yadav’s Jan Adhikar Party-Loktantrik (JAP-L), <g data-gr-id="53">Samras</g> Samaj Party (SSP), Nationalists Peoples Party (NPP) and Samajwadi Janata Party (SJP). SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, playing the minority card after walking out of the grand alliance, could make the battle tough for the JD(U)-RJD-Congress combine in the Seemanchal region. Leaders of the grand alliance, have, however, downplayed the impact of Owaisi or the third front on the poll outcome.

Rahul will on October 26 also address rallies in West Champaran and East <g data-gr-id="60">Champaran ,</g> which will go to polls on November 1 in the fourth phase, when votes will be cast in 55 seats in seven districts.

Sonia will address another rally at Wajirganj in Gaya on October 3. Gaya has a sizeable population of Mahadalits and is the home district of former Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, whose party <g data-gr-id="57">Hinduatani</g> <g data-gr-id="58">Awam</g> Morcha-Secular (HAM-Secular) is an ally of the NDA. Congress has fielded old warhorse Awdhesh Singh from Wajirganj constituency, a seat held by the BJP at present.

Gaya is considered to be a stronghold of the BJP. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already visited Bodhgaya.

Sonia will also address one rally each in Buxar and RJD chief Lalu Prasad’s home turf Saran on October 17.

The BJP, in alliance with Ram Vilas Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), Upendra Kushwaha’s Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP) and Manjhi’s HAM(S) is trying hard to <g data-gr-id="55">wrest-power</g> from two-term Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

After the Delhi drubbing, Bihar polls are a make-or-break election for the BJP, while the political future of both Prasad and Kumar also hinges on it in this crucial poll. Bihar will have five-phase polls from October 12 to November 5 to elect 243 members of its legislative Assembly. Results will be announced on November 8.