Kumar Uttam / HT
An internal assessment by the BJP has the party worried about its prospects in the crucial Bihar election with two phases of polling out of the way, as the review points to a close fight between the NDA and the coalition led by chief minister Nitish Kumar.
The BJP’s assessment suggests the rival Grand Alliance took the lead in the first phase of polling on October 12 for 49 seats in 10 districts.
The second phase of polling on Friday covered 32 assembly seats in six districts of central Bihar. In 2010, when it was in alliance with the ruling JD(U), the BJP had fielded candidates in 12 of these constituencies and won nine. With self-styled Mahadalit icon and former CM Jitan Ram Manjhi on its side, the BJP expected to sweep the areas that voted in the second phase as they have a considerable population of the Scheduled Castes, particularly the Mahadalits, apart from the upper castes. However, the internal evaluation has thrown up a surprise.
“Manjhi comes from this region and given his support among Mahadalits coupled with the BJP’s own reach among the upper castes, we expected a definitive victory in this phase of polls. But, it now appears that the Grand Alliance may be very close to our mark even in this phase,” revealed another BJP leader in Delhi. Candidate selection by allies and sabotage were some of the reasons suspected to be behind the party’s less-than-encouraging performance, said sources. more
An internal assessment by the BJP has the party worried about its prospects in the crucial Bihar election with two phases of polling out of the way, as the review points to a close fight between the NDA and the coalition led by chief minister Nitish Kumar.
The BJP’s assessment suggests the rival Grand Alliance took the lead in the first phase of polling on October 12 for 49 seats in 10 districts.
The second phase of polling on Friday covered 32 assembly seats in six districts of central Bihar. In 2010, when it was in alliance with the ruling JD(U), the BJP had fielded candidates in 12 of these constituencies and won nine. With self-styled Mahadalit icon and former CM Jitan Ram Manjhi on its side, the BJP expected to sweep the areas that voted in the second phase as they have a considerable population of the Scheduled Castes, particularly the Mahadalits, apart from the upper castes. However, the internal evaluation has thrown up a surprise.
“Manjhi comes from this region and given his support among Mahadalits coupled with the BJP’s own reach among the upper castes, we expected a definitive victory in this phase of polls. But, it now appears that the Grand Alliance may be very close to our mark even in this phase,” revealed another BJP leader in Delhi. Candidate selection by allies and sabotage were some of the reasons suspected to be behind the party’s less-than-encouraging performance, said sources. more
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