With the second phase of the Bihar assembly elections scheduled for November 11, the political landscape across the Bhagalpur and Banka districts remains highly volatile. The leading alliances, the NDA and the INDIA bloc, are both confronting significant internal challenges, including rebellions and seat-sharing discord, which are testing their publicly proclaimed unity.
Internal Rifts Challenge NDA's Cohesion
The NDA coalition, comprising the BJP, JD(U), LJP(RV), HAM, and RLM, is contesting the polls jointly. However, the alliance is grappling with open rebellion from several sitting MLAs who were denied tickets and are now contesting as independents. This has created an atmosphere of internal sabotage, causing concern for the official NDA candidates.
In the seven assembly constituencies of Bhagalpur, the seat distribution is as follows: BJP is contesting Pirpainty (SC), Bhagalpur, and Bihpur; the JD(U) has fielded candidates in Kahalgaon, Bihpur, and Sultanganj; and the LJP(RV) is contesting Nathnagar. HAM(S) and RLM are not contesting any seats in these two districts.
The rebellion is palpable in key seats. In Pirpainty, BJP rebel and sitting MLA Lalan Kumar joined the RJD after being denied a ticket and is now backing the RJD candidate against BJP's Murari Paswan. Similarly, in Kahalgaon, BJP's sitting MLA Pawan Yadav is contesting as an independent against NDA's JD(U) candidate Shubhanand Mukesh. The JD(U) itself faces a revolt in Kahalgaon, where its sitting MLA Narendra Kumar Niraj is fighting as an independent against the party's official nominee, Shailesh Kumar alias Bulo Mandal.
INDIA Bloc's Seat-Level Clashes
The opposition INDIA bloc is not immune to internal strife. The alliance is strained by direct clashes between its constituents in several constituencies. In Kahalgaon, the RJD's official candidate Rajnish Bharti is being challenged by Congress nominee Pravin Singh. A similar situation has emerged in Sultanganj, where RJD's Chandan Kumar is being opposed by Congress's Lalan Kumar.
Within the INDIA bloc for Banka district, the RJD is contesting Dhoraiya (SC), Belhar, and Katoria (ST); the Congress is contesting Amarpur; and the CPI is contesting Banka. Another partner, the VIP, is fighting from Bihpur and Gopalpur in Bhagalpur district.
The Wider Electoral Field and Voter Sentiment
Adding to the complexity are other players like the new entrant Jan Suraaj, which is contesting six of the seven seats in Bhagalpur and all five seats in Banka. The BSP is contesting from ten seats across the 12 constituencies in the Bhagalpur division, while the AAP and AIMIM are also in the fray in select constituencies.
Political analysts suggest the main contest is between the NDA and INDIA blocs, with other parties primarily aiming to make their presence felt. A key question, as highlighted by a political observer, is whether voters will prefer continuity under Chief Minister Nitish Kumar or seek a change in regime. Nitish Kumar remains a central force in the state's politics.
To ensure a peaceful and fair poll, the district administration has made elaborate security arrangements. This includes the deployment of mounted police for patrolling in the diara areas of the Bihpur and Gopalpur assembly constituencies under the Naugachia subdivision.
