NEW DELHI: The BJP today released its second list of 46 candidates for the second phase of the upcoming elections to the 243-member Bihar Assembly that is promising to be quite a cliffhanger with the arrival of Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM on the scene.
Overall, the presence of a “polarising” figure like Owaisi is being seen as “advantage BJP” in the elections it is contesting with allies JD-U, newbie VIP and HAM (S).
The third alliance of six parties, which includes Upendra Kushwaha-led Rashtriya Lok Samata Party, Owaisi-headed AIMIM and Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), has the capacity to lead to some interesting result on November 10, say observers.
While the new alliance is aiming to capture Muslim-Dalit votes, the observers believe the presence of Owaisi can split the critical Muslim votes denting the prospects of the RJD-headed “mahagathbandan” to the advantage of the BJP/NDA.
Though leaders of the NDA and Grand Alliance claim development as the key plank, caste, as always, is playing a major factor in selection and distribution of ticket in the state where the Muslim-Yadav equation played a major role in the 15-year rule of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad.
The BJP largely does not field Muslim candidates, who comprise 17 per cent of the population and along with Yadavs can make or break the prospects in at least 110 of the 243 seats in the state.
Though ally JD-U is dependent on individual Muslim candidates and proxy partner LJP is also fielding those from the minority community, it is believed that presence of Owaisi may play spoilsport for the RJD and Congress to a certain extent.
Meanwhile, in a rally at Gaya, BJP chief JP Nadda on Sunday said the Nitish Kumar government took care of the people of Bihar amid the Covid-19 pandemic, asserting that it was important that the leadership of the state is secured with him.
Addressing an election rally at the historic Gandhi Maidan in Gaya, Nadda listed the development works done by the NDA government at the Centre in the last six years in the state.
Nadda is on a day-long visit to the state to strategise the BJP’s poll campaign.