Nitish, many Bihar minister in JD(U) list of star campaigners

By Alok Mohit and Vishwapti

PATNA: As the countdown to the Lok Sabha elections begins, the Janata Dal (United) has prepared its list of star campaigners.

The JD(U) is part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which also includes the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Hindustani Awam Morcha, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) and the Rashtriya Lok Morcha in Bihar.

According to sources familiar with the matter, the JD(U)’s list of star campaigners, which is yet to be released officially, features Bihar chief minister and party president Nitish Kumar, national secretary Sanjay Jha, former national president Lalan Singh, ministers Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, Vijendra Yadav, Shravan Kumar and state unit chief Umesh Kushwaha. The delay in announcement of the list is being attributed to the fact that JD(U) is not fielding candidates in the four Bihar constituencies going to the polls in the first phase on April 19. The party is slated to contest on all five seats in the second phase.

A senior JD(U) leader told View 19 that the party had booked two helicopters for campaigning, indicating a strong intent to engage in an extensive outreach programme.

As per the seat-sharing arrangement in the NDA, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will contest 17 and the JD(U) 16 seats in Bihar. Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) will field candidates in five constituencies, and Jitan Manjhi’s Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) and Upendra Kushwaha’s Rashtriya Lok Morcha will contest one seat each. The state has 40 Lok Sabha seats.

The voting in Bihar will take place in seven phases on April 19, April 26, May 7, May 13, May 20, May 25 and June 1. The results will be declared on June 4.

Authors Alok Mohit is former senior News Editor of Hindustan Times Patna and Chandigarh editions; can be contacted at mohit.alok19@gmail.com and Viswapati is a senior journalist based in Patna