AFTER the sixth phase of the parliamentary election, only eight seats remain to go to the polls in the last phase on June 1, 2024, in Bihar. The electioneering has reached a fever pitch with visits from prime minister Narendra Modi and various other BJP leaders, who are perturbed by the groundswell of support for the INDIA alliance from the very beginning. This trend has gathered momentum in the last leg of campaigning. Numerous visits from Modi, Amit Shah, and other BJP stalwarts have failed to stem the tide of change.

There was a lot at stake for the BJP and its allies in the sixth phase, but ground reports suggest they are heading for significant losses in this particular phase. The pet themes of communalism which include raising the issue of ‘vote jihad,’ and falsehoods like – implementation of Sharia by the INDIA alliance, depriving SC, ST, and OBCs of their reservation rights to bestow them upon minorities, -- are repeated ad nauseam by the prime minister himself and parroted by state leaders day in and day out. However, in Bihar, there are few takers for such communal and lies based propaganda as the INDIA alliance has deftly changed the narrative by raising issues of unemployment, soaring prices of essential commodities, education, health, and other day-to-day concerns.

Tejashwi Yadav, the young and energetic leader of RJD, has addressed 200 mass meetings, covering almost all the parliamentary constituencies. All India president of the Congress party Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi have also addressed several meetings in and around Patna, along with leaders of the alliance parties. Arun Mishra, along with state committee member Manoj Chandravanshi, represented the CPI(M) in all such meetings.

The last phase of the election is crucial for both the INDIA bloc and the NDA. CPI(ML) is locked in a straight fight with three NDA stalwarts: RK Singh in Ara, Upendra Kushwaha in Karakat, and the JD(U) candidate in Nalanda. Congress candidate Abhijeet Anshul and RJD candidate Misa Bharti will take on Ravi Shankar Prasad and Ram Kripal Yadav of BJP in the two prestigious seats of Patna Sahib and Pataliputra, respectively. The other three seats are Jehanabad, Buxar, and Sasaram.

Though these are very tough seats for INDIA bloc, shifting voting preferences in their favor suggest that every seat is up tough fight and there is no easy win for NDA. The recent utterances of Modi have further alienated the Bihar population against the NDA combination, and the people of Bihar are determined to punish them by overwhelmingly voting in favour of INDIA bloc. Bihar will write a new chapter in the nationwide struggle for saving the democratic secular character of the country.

CPI(M) ELECTION CAMPAIGN

Though the Party has fielded its candidate in only one constituency, the entire leadership, from state to district and local levels, has carried on the general campaign against NDA both independently and in coordination with INDIA allies.

After the completion of voting in the third phase, the state and district leaders of the Party left Khagaria and returned to their respective districts, where they are engaged in day-to-day campaigning alongside the constituents of INDIA.

State secretary Lalan Chowdhary has addressed several meetings in Darbhanga, Madhubani, Samastipur, and adjoining districts, contributing to mobilising people to vote in favour of INDIA bloc.

Central committee member Awadhesh Kumar has also toured different districts, addressing several meetings organised by the Party and alliance partners.

As an MLA, Ajay Kumar is the most sought-after leader for campaigning in different constituencies. He extensively campaigned in the Ujiyarpur constituency, where Alok Kumar Mehta is pitted against central minister Nityanand Roy. He also campaigned in Saran, Champaran, Begusarai, as well as in north Kolkata and south Kolkata in West Bengal.

Sanjay Kumar, the secretariat member and candidate from Khagaria, also campaigned in Munger, Saran, and Sitamarhi. Secretariat member Rampari carried out an extensive campaign in Khagaria along with women volunteers of AIDWA, campaigning in different districts of the Kosi belt and in her home district, Madhubani. Other secretariat members, PN Rao, Binod Kumar, Bhola Diwakar, Rajendra Singh, Shyam Bharti, and Ahmad Ali, were the leading campaigners in their respective districts in favour of INDIA bloc.

CITU secretary, AR Sindhu, stayed in Khagaria for three days and addressed meetings of mid day meal and anganwadi workers, explaining the role of the working class in ousting the present pro-corporate, communal, authoritarian Modi regime. A group of more than 25 leaders of the All India Transport Workers’ Federation, Bihar committee, under the leadership of Raj Kumar Jha, campaigned for a week in Khagaria and addressed several meetings organised by the local transport workers. CITU secretary Anupam Kumar worked as a key coordinator between the Party and mass organisations. He also set up the social media network in Khagaria. State president of the Khetihar Majdoor Union, Devendra Chaurasia, remained stationed in Khagaria and took part in daily campaigning. CPI(M) MLA from Manjhi in Saran district, Satyendra Yadav, was given the responsibility of overseeing the entire campaign work by the alliance parties.

A cultural squad comprising 14 members, seven each from Bihar and Uttarakhand, covered the entire parliamentary constituency of Khagaria. They staged ‘nukkad’ plays and sang songs to enliven the election campaign and deliver a clear message to choose INDIA bloc candidates over NDA.

The state centre was managed by Sarvodaya Sharma and Arun Kumar Mishra. They coordinated and interacted with state leaders of INDIA bloc and participated in joint meetings, supported by Ganesh Shankar Singh, Ashok Mishra, and Pravin Pandey.