Bihar polls campaigning for first phase reaches feverish pitch

Stumping for 47 Assembly segments going to poll in the first phase in Bihar on October 21 today reached its crescendo.

Patna: Stumping for 47 Assembly segments
going to poll in the first phase in Bihar on October 21 today
reached its crescendo with star campaigners, including Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh, canvassing support despite inclement
weather conditions.

Rains and cloudy sky had initially delayed the scheduled
programmes of the leaders of various political parties for
electioneering this morning.

While Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, proceeded in a chopper
to campaign for NDA nominees in Darbhanga as per schedule,
rains played a spoilsport with other star campaigners who
awaited Air Traffic Control (ATC) clearance for drumming up
support in favour of their respective party candidates.

Among those, whose scheduled departure by chartered
choppers was delayed, included Deputy Chief Minister S K Modi,
state BJP president C P Thakur and the party`s women wing
president Smriti Irani.

BJP star campaigner and MP Navjyot Singh Siddhu`s
election programme by helicopter was cancelled because of bad
weather, party sources disclosed and said senior party leader
Arun Jaitley preferred to go to Muzaffarpur for campaigning by
road.

Similarly, JD(U) national president Sharad Yadav and
Rajya Sabha member Anwar Ali too remained stranded at the
state hangar for more than 45 minutes because of rains.

The Prime Minister reached airbase in Purnia by a
chartered plane from New Delhi and flew in a helicopter for
Narpatganj in Araria district where he addressed an election
rally, 45 minutes behind his schedule, seeking votes for the
Congress.

The weather gods also slightly affected the scheduled
departure of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad and his LJP counterpart
Ramvilas Paswan for canvassing support for the candidates of
their alliance.

-PTI

Zee News App: Read latest news of India and world, bollywood news, business updates, cricket scores, etc. Download the Zee news app now to keep up with daily breaking news and live news event coverage.