Lalu,Paswan stare at Nitish wave even on seats won last time

In Bhagalpur,BJP sitting MP Syed Shahnawaz Hussain has the advantage against the RJD’s Shakuni Choudhary. The division of the Muslim-Yadav,Gangota and SC votes among the RJD,Congress,BSP and two strong Independents stands Hussain in good stead.

Banka is likely to see the toughest battle of the phase with Independent candidate and JD(U) rebel Digvijay Singh raising the banner of revolt against CM Nitish Kumar. Nitish has held several public meetings in favour of his nominee Damodar Raut.

The RJD’s prestige is at stake in Kisanganj,where sitting MP Mohammed Taslimuddin is having a tough time against the Congress’s “man of integrity” Israrul Haq and JD(U)’s Mahmood Ashraf. The polarisation of Hindu votes will decide the winner.

In Purnea,the battle is between sitting BJP MP Pappu Singh and Congress-backed Independent Shanti Priya,mother of controversial MP Pappu Yadav. CPI(ML) candidate Madhvi Sarkar,widow of Ajit Sarkar in whose murder case Pappu Yadav was awarded life sentence,is also in the fray.

In Munger,JD(U) state president Rajiv Ranjan,alias Lallan Singh,seem to have the edge,while Monajir Hasan is expected to have a tough time against LJP nominee Anil Choudhary in Begusarai.

With Naxal strikes marring the first two phases in the state,the Bihar Police is not taking any chances. “Thirty companies of paramilitary forces will be deployed. Three helicopters will do air surveillance,especially in Banka and Munger,” said police spokesperson and ADGP Neelmani.