The BJP faces the most severe challenge so far to save its bastion as the battle turns decisive in the penultimate phase when polling will be held on eight LS seats on Sunday. What is significant in Bihar Phase 6 is that all eight seats are currently held by the NDA — seven by BJP and one by the LJP — while the opposition Grand Alliance has nothing to lose.
A major worry for the NDA is that the contest is straight on most of the seats and the Narendra Modi wave is missing entirely this election, as is evident from the poll percentage recorded so far. The overall polling percentage has remained at 56.79 per cent so far, which is almost the same as was recorded in the last LS polls. Despite the high-intensity election campaign and all energy invested by PM Modi, BJP chief Amit Shah and top NDA leaders, the general voters have not showed much enthusiasm.
The initial euphoria witnessed among the masses over the air strikes on terror camps in Pakistan too has slowly gone missing, and issues like unemployment, slowing economy, inflation, social security and women safety are taking centre stage much to the discomfiture of the BJP. While the BJP leadership tried hard to keep the masses engaged by raking Pakistan, Vante Matram, beef issue, Rajiv Gandhi’s “corrupt” dealings and JeM chief Masood Azhar, the opposition has been able to make the masses focus on the local issues.
READ | Lok Sabha elections 2019 Phase 6 | Key constituencies, contenders in 7 states
In another major setback to the NDA, the Supreme Court on Friday refused to regularise the services of nearly 4 lakh schoolteachers appointed on contractual basis by the Nitish Kumar government, leaving the vast teaching community hugely anguished and agitated. The SC delivered its judgment after the state government challenged a Patna High court judgment saying implementation of its order would entail an additional burden of Rs 25,000-Rs 30,000 crore on state exchequer.
The High Court had ruled that the contractual teachers were entitled to equal pay for equal work at par with the regular teachers appointed in government schools.
Opposition RJD had slammed the state government for challenging the high court’s judgment in the top court and has promised to seriously consider the demand of the teachers if it comes to power in the state. The opposition googly is likely to have an impact on the NDA prospects, according to observers.
Bihar Phase 6: All you need to know
Number of constituencies: 8
Names of constituencies: Vaishali, Sheohar, East Champaran, West Champaran, Valmikinagar, Gopalganj, Siwan, Maharajganj
Total Number of voters: 1,38,02,576
Number of male voters: 73,05,983
Number of female voters: 64,96,117
Number of third gender voters: 476
Number of contesting candidates: 127
Number of polling stations: 13,793
Bihar votes: Key contestants
Union minister Radha Mohan Singh (BJP): East Champaran
Former minister Raghuvansh Prasad Singh (RJD): Vaishali
Heena Shahab, wife of jailed RJD politician Mohammad Shahabuddin (RJD): Siwan