(Riya Singh, Intern Journalist) Patna: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi urged Bihar’s voters to cast their vote for the Mahagathbandhan for “justice, employment, farmers and laborers,” as polling began for the first phase of the three-phase state assembly elections at 7 am on Wednesday.
“This time for justice, employment, farmers, and laborers, your vote should only be for the Mahagathbandhan. Good luck to all of you for the first phase of Bihar elections” read Gandhi’s tweet in Hindi.
Gandhi’s party, the Congress, is contesting the Bihar assembly polls in an alliance with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Left parties–the coalition has been named the ‘Mahagathbandhan’ or grand alliance. RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav is the Mahagathbandhan’s candidate for the chief minister’s chair.
Also on Wednesday, Gandhi will address two public rallies in Bihar, at Valmikinagar in West Champaran and at Kuseshwar Sthan in Darbhanga. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also be in Bihar as he will address three rallies, including one at Patna’s veterinary college ground.
Earlier today, PM Modi, too, urged voters to ensure participation in this “festival of democracy,” while strictly complying with all Covid-19 related precautions.
Bihar has a total of 243 constituencies of which 71 went to polls on Wednesday. The remaining will vote in two more phases: 94 in second phase on November 3 and 78 in third and final phase on November 7. Counting of votes will take place on November 10, according to a schedule announced by the Election Commission of India (ECI) last month.
Janata Dal(United) president and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar is the candidate for the chief minister’s post of the state’s ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA). The alliance comprises, among others, PM Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Kumar’s JD(U).
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