Bihar election is about aspirations and lost opportunities: Arun Jaitley

Patna: Expressing confidence of the BJP-led NDA's clean sweep in the Bihar Assembly polls, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday said the conventional arithmetic has ended this time as this election is about people's aspirations and lost opportunities.

"In this election, the conventional arithmetic has come to an end. The basic chemistry has changed in this election. The youth and women are with the BJP and NDA in large numbers. It is difficult to assess them in this changed chemistry," he told ANI.

"I feel many times that there is disparity between ground reality and media analysis. If you watch national news, you will think Bihar polls are being fought on the issue of beef. So, this election is about people's aspirations and lost opportunities," he added when asked that the caste arithmetic has taken the focal point as just 10 days are left for the campaigning.

Jaitley also downplayed the BJP's move not to declare the chief ministerial candidate for Bihar.

"Not declaring a CM candidate doesn't make a difference. We won in Maharashtra, Haryana and Jharkhand; we had not declared any chief ministerial candidate for these states. We decide it (the chief ministerial candidate) later," said Jaitley.

"So, not having a chief ministerial candidate varies from state to state. You declare it where you have an identified leader or a sitting Chief Minister. We have both options when we do not have an identified leader or a sitting Chief Minister," he added.

The Finance Minister further said the RJD and JD (U) have betrayed the people of Bihar in the last 25 years.

"Every election has its own slogan and catch line. Corruption has come to an end. The government is taking decisions one after the other. Despite the world economy moving at a slow pace, India is making all attempts to progress. So, there is an atmosphere of excitement and improvement in the country," he added.

Polling for the third phase of Bihar Assembly Elections began at 7 am amid tight security arrangements today.

Fifty constituencies spread over six districts are going to polls in this phase. Polling will conclude at 5 pm in 40 constituencies, while in the remaining 10 Naxal-affected constituencies it will end at 4 pm.

Over one crore 45 lakh electorates will decide the electoral fate of 808 candidates, including 71 females.