BIHAR ELECTION 2020

The 243-seat Bihar Assembly is set to go to polls starting October 28 which will be conducted in three phases. In the first phase, voting will be done for 71 seats on October 28; the second phase for 94 seats on November 3; the third for 78 seats on November 7. The results will be announced on November 10. The major political parties in Bihar are Janata Dal (United), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). RJD ally Congress, which used to be an undisputed rival in the 90s, stands at a distant fourth. Among other players are Samajwadi Party, National Congress Party (NCP), The incumbent National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government in the state is led by JD(U) leader chief minister Nitish Kumar. In the previous election, the alliance was led by the BJP alongside three smaller allies namely the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), the Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLDP) and the Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM). The JD(U) contested 2016 Assembly elections as part of the current opposition Mahagathbandan. In 2016, the Mahagathbandan government won the elections and formed the government. However, in 2017, JD(U) switched alliance causing the Mahagathbandan government to fall and NDA came to power. In 2018, two of the partners, the RLSP and the HAM left the alliance. In 2020, while HAM has joined the NDA again, ahead of Assembly elections, LJP has decided to contest solo exiting the NDA. In addition to BJP, JD(U), HAM, the fourth member of the NDA for Bihar elections is Vikassheel Insaan Party. It would be safe to say that the 2020 Bihar contest is split between the JD(U)-led NDA and the Mahagathbandan. Mahagathbandhan or the Grand Alliance is a coalition of political parties in Bihar which was formed before the previous elections to counter NDA. The Mahagathbandhan comprises of Congress, RJD, Communist Party of India (M-L), Communist Party of India (CPI) and Communist Party of India (M). Back in 2016, the Mahagathbandhan was joined by RSLP, HAM and VIP after they quit the NDA to opposed JD(U) joining the NDA. Meanwhile, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha will be contesting elections solo but is an ally. The elections will be conducted amid the COVID-19 pandemic with the necessary guidelines issued by the Election Commission of India. The election will consist of both, virtual and physical campaigns. The authorities will also pass the guidelines over limited people to be involved in the rallies. Due to Covid-19, the polling time will be increased by one hour and will now be from 7am to 6pm, except in Naxalite–Maoist insurgency affected areas.