Rally war about to begin in Bihar as rivals line up shows of strength

Patna: Swords are drawn for the battle in Bihar with two main contenders, the NDA and Opposition-led Grand Alliance, planning to hold public rallies in Patna to showcase their strength ahead of 2019 general elections.

Patna has been covered with posters, banners and hoardings of the NDA while the Congress is urging people to reach the city and attend its rallies.

A month after Congress president Rahul Gandhi will address the masses at the historic Gandhi Maidan in Patna, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief minister Nitish Kumar are scheduled to hold a rally at the same ground.

While Mr Gandhi will address a “Jan Akansha Rally” on February 3, JD(U) has planned an NDA rally on March 3. This will also be Mr Gandhi’s first visit to Patna after taking over as party president.

The rally is considered crucial as the Congress will be holding a massive political event in Patna’s Gandhi Maidan after almost two decades. Sources claim that after registering a resounding victory in three states Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, the Congress has been trying to increase its base in other states.

According to political analysts, the Congress in Bihar has also been trying to regain its lost ground by holding public rallies on its own. They claim that during the 1980s and early 90s, the grand old party lost its core voters after the emergence of regional parties in the state.

“It’s the RJD and BJP which took away a large chunk of its voter base in the 90s. The maximum number of its traditional upper caste voters switched over to the BJP during this period. The party had been in the moribund state till 2015 Assembly elections,” political observers said.

Talking about the rally, Congress state president Madan Mohan Jha said that he has been in touch with Grand Alliance partners and invitation to attend the event has been extended to RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav, HAM’s Jitan Ram Manjhi, RLSP chief Upendra Kushwaha, and others.

“It will be a historic rally which marks the end of NDA regime in this country. All their lies have already been exposed and people now want a government which will change their lives,” BPCC president Madan Mohan Jha said.

Sources claim that the success of massive Mahagathbandhan rally in Kolkata on January 9 has raised political temperature in other states, including Bihar. Besides, the rally being organised by NDA is also being seen as a counter to Congress party’s “Jan Akansha rally”.

According to political observers, JD(U)’s decision to hold NDA rally has raised eyebrows in the political circle here because chief minister Nitish Kumar who has never shared a political stage with Prime Minister Narendra Modi after 2010 will be jointly addressing the masses.

“The Prime Minister will be presenting the government’s report card with proof during the rally. It’s the Congress which has been misleading masses across the country to win elections. We will also ask the Congress to present the report card of the last 55 years,” BJP state president Nityanand Rai said.

According to BJP sources, apart from the March 3 rally, the party has also planned a series of events to connect with people and popularise welfare schemes launched by the Prime Minister.  

BJP leaders said that senior party leaders, including ministers, have been asked to strengthen panchayat and booth level committees to achieve success in the 2019 general elections. BJP insiders said that the party is also planning to depute working committee members to spend at least a fortnight each with district and booth level workers.