Patna:
With the campaign for the Bihar election in its final week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congressional Leader Rahul Gandhi will address public rallies in the state for their respective coalitions today. Organizers on both sides assured that adequate security measures were being taken for the events amid concerns about the increase in coronavirus infections.
Prime Minister Modi will address three demonstrations, in Dehri-on Sone, Gaya and Bhagalpur, to seek votes for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in the state. Kumar is expected to join Prime Minister Modi at the rallies in Dehri and Bhagalpur, the PTI news agency reported.
“Tomorrow I will have the opportunity to be with my brothers and sisters from Bihar. I will lead rallies in Sasaram, Gaya and Bhagalpur. During this time, I will present the development agenda of the NDA to the people and ask for blessings for their partnership,” the tweeted the Prime Minister Modi on Thursday.
Congressional MP Rahul Gandhi is also set to begin the three-phase elections that begin next Wednesday. He will address two demonstrations in Hisua in Nawada and Kahalgaon in the Bhagalpur district.
Tejashwi Yadav, the chief ministerial face of the “Grand Alliance,” which includes Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Congress and left-wing parties, is likely to join Gandhi in Hisua, where Congressional candidate Neetu Singh Anil Singh will assume the BJP MLA, PTI reported.
The BJP has already unveiled its list of stars for the Bihar elections with union ministers Rajnath Singh, BJP president JP Nadda, and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, addressing a series of public demonstrations.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman published the party’s manifesto on Thursday, including the promise of free vaccines for residents of the state.
While Nitish Kumar himself has been conducting four to five public meetings every day and also at virtual rallies, his rival Tejashwi Yadav of the RJD has been holding eight to nine events in the absence of his father Lalu Yadav, who is in jail.
The cameos of Prime Minister Modi and Rahul Gandhi are expected to increase the voltage in the polls that are taking place amid the COVID-19 crisis, which has required extensive security measures. However, scenes from political rallies have also raised concerns about widespread violation of these rules.
Party officials and sources told the PTI news agency that special measures are being taken for the safety of those attending the rallies of the two leaders.
According to a report, the Special Protection Group guarding Prime Minister Modi has taken over the venues where the Prime Minister will hold his events.
Chairs have been arranged for nearly 15,000 people at Gandhi Maidan in Gaya with adequate social distancing. No one will be able to enter the concentration camp without a face mask, they said.
While the prime minister and a handful of NDA leaders will be on the main stage, a separate platform has been set up nearby for the candidates, PTI reported.
At Rahul Gandhi’s rally in Kahalgaon, attendees will receive face masks and disinfectants, organizers said.
Bihar will vote in three phases on October 28, November 3 and 7 for a new government and the results will be announced on November 10.
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