Bihar: Electoral fates sealed, will this phase decide next CM?

PATNA: The second phase of the assembly polls held in 94 constituencies on Tuesday sealed the fate of several high profile candidates, including RJD chief Lalu Prasad’s two sons Tejashwi Prasad Yadav and Tej Pratap Yadav, four ministers of the Nitish Kumar cabinet, senior politician and actor

Shatrughan Sinha

’s son Luv Sinha, RJD’s senior leader Alok Mehta and Pushpam Priya Choudhary of Plurals Party.

The second phase was also important for some other prominent contestants like Tej Pratap Yadav’s estranged father in-law Chandrika Rai, former MP Anand Mohan’s son Chetan Anand, Speaker of outgoing assembly Vijay Choudhary besides a few bahubalis (musclemen). such as Ritlal Yadav, Munna Shukla, Rama Singh’s wife Veena Singh, Manoranjan Kumar Singh alias Dhumal Singh’s spouse Sita Devi and former MLA Ranbir Yadav’s wife Poonam Devi.

While Tejashwi, the CM face of RJD-led Grand Alliance, was in fray from Raghopur in Vaishali district, his elder brother Tej Pratap contested from Hasanpur constituency in Samastipur district. Tejashwi, who is challenged by BJP’s Satish Kumar, addressed four election meetings, including two in diara belt, in a bid to consolidate his supporters.

Satish had emerged as a giant killer when he defeated former CM

Rabri Devi

from Raghopur in 2010 on a JD(U) ticket. This time he is contesting as BJP candidate. Tej, on the other hand, is pitted against two-term MLA Raj Kumar Rai of JD(U). Tejashwi campaigned in Hasanpur to garner support for his elder brother, who had earlier won from Mahua in 2015 election.

Tej’s father in-law Chandrika Rai is seeking re-election from the

Parsa assembly seat

, but this time on a JD(U) ticket. He switched over to JD(U) from RJD after the relations of his daughter soured with Lalu’s family members.

Chandrika is facing a tough contest from his rival Chhote Lal Rai of RJD. LJP has fielded Rakesh Singh from this seat.

Nand Kishore Yadav, a minister in the outgoing Nitish Kumar government, is seeking re-election for a seventh term from Patna Sahib on a BJP ticket.

Patna Sahib is considered a BJP stronghold. He is pitted against Pravin Singh of Congress. RLSP has fielded Jagdip Prasad Verma from the seat. Yadav has been winning election from the seat since 1995.

Shrawan Kumar, a minister in the Nitish Kumar government, is seeking re-election from Nalanda seat. Kumar, considered close to Nitish, is facing a stiff challenge from his nearest rival Gunjan Patel of Congress. While LJP has fielded Ramkeshwar Prasad, Sonu Kumar is in the fray on an RLSP ticket from the seat.

BJP MLA Rana Randhir Singh, a minister in the Nitish Kumar cabinet, is seeking re-election from Madhuban seat. He is pitted against Madan Sah of RJD.

State social welfare minister Ram Sevak Singh, RJD leaders Alok Kumar Mehta, Shailesh Kumar and former MP Anand Mohan’s son Chetan Anand are contesting from Hathua, Ujiarpur, Bihpur and Sheohar constituencies, respectively. Anand Mohan is serving life term in former Gopalganj DM G Krishnaiah murder case.

Bankipur constituency in Patna saw a tough contest among three young leaders —Nitin Naveen of BJP, Luv Sinha of Congress and Pushpam Priya Choudhary of Plurals Party.