By Vishwapati
Patna: Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will launch election campaign for National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidates in Bihar with a rally in Jamui, where voting will be held in the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections.
According to the campaign schedule released by Kumar’s party, Janata Dal (United), the chief minister will address an election rally along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Nawada on April 7. Under the seat-sharing arrangement in the NDA, the Nawada seat has gone to the BJP. Vivek Thakur, a Rajya Sabha member, has been fielded by the BJP from Nawada. In the 2019 elections, the seat was contested by its ally Lok Janshakti Party.
On April 9, Kumar will take part in a roadshow for Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) candidate and former chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi in Gaya parliamentary constituency. Later, he will also address a public meeting in support of Manjhi, against whom Kumar had earlier lost his cool in the state assembly and said it was due to his “foolishness” that he had made Manjhi the chief minister of Bihar. During a debate on caste census in the assembly, Manjhi had insisted that the caste survey data were incorrect. An angry Kumar had then said, “It was my mistake that I made him (Jitan Ram Manjhi) the chief minister; otherwise, he has no sense. He came running to me, but I told him to stay there (in the opposition). He became the CM because of my foolishness.” The parties, headed by the two leaders, are now part of the NDA.
On April 11, Kumar will hold a roadshow in Aurangabad for BJP candidate Sushil Singh and also address a rally.
The Lok Sabha elections in Bihar will be held in seven phases spreading over 43 days, beginning April 19 and ending on June 1. Elections in Nawada, Gaya and Aurangabad, apart from Jamui, will be held in the first phase on April 19. Votes will be counted on June 4.
Edited by Alok Mohit, former senior News Editor of Hindustan Times Patna and Chandigarh edition
