Close contests expected in Bihar today

The ruling NDA and Opposition RJD-LJP combine appear to be locked in a neck-and-neck fight in 48 assembly constituencies in Bihar where the third of six phases of polling will take place on Thursday.

The ruling NDA and Opposition RJD-LJP combine appear to be locked in a neck-and-neck fight in 48 assembly constituencies in Bihar where the third of six phases of polling will take place on Thursday.

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This time the NDA’s JD(U) and the BJP are contesting 24 seats each while the RJD and LJP are contesting 35 and 13 seats, respectively.

The Congress is contesting all seats in a region where the CPI-ML also matters. This phase will be crucial for the NDA, particularly the BJP, which won most of the seats in the October 2005 polls.

The social combination of the six districts is so complicated that no party can expect explicit support. While Rajputs dominate the Saran division, the Muslims, Brahmins and Yadavs hold sway in the Gopalganj and Siwan districts. The voting preference of the Brahmins in Gopalganj and Muslims in Siwan will be an important factor.

This phase in six districts of north-central and north-western Bihar is being held under unprecedented security.

The DGP said Special Task Force commandos of the Bihar Police and top police and administration officials would conduct air surveillance during polling. Trained dogs will be used to assist the SSB on the borders with UP and Nepal.

A quick look