Bihar: Assembly and council elections
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[[File: The average age of the Bihar legislator in 2010 and 2015.jpg| The average age of the Bihar legislator in 2010 and 2015; Graphic courtesy: [http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Gallery.aspx?id=09_11_2015_018_021_002&type=P&artUrl=HOUSE-GETS-OLDER-RICHER-09112015018021&eid=31808 ''The Times of India''], November 9, 2015|frame|500px]] | [[File: The average age of the Bihar legislator in 2010 and 2015.jpg| The average age of the Bihar legislator in 2010 and 2015; Graphic courtesy: [http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Gallery.aspx?id=09_11_2015_018_021_002&type=P&artUrl=HOUSE-GETS-OLDER-RICHER-09112015018021&eid=31808 ''The Times of India''], November 9, 2015|frame|500px]] | ||
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=2015= | =2015= | ||
[http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=NITISH-IN-BIHAR-MODI-BAHAR-09112015001008 ''The Times of India''], Nov 09 2015 | [http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=NITISH-IN-BIHAR-MODI-BAHAR-09112015001008 ''The Times of India''], Nov 09 2015 | ||
| + | [[File: Bihar assembly elections, 2015, seats contested and won by the major players.jpg| Bihar assembly elections, 2015: Seats contested and won by the major players; Graphic courtesy: [http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Gallery.aspx?id=09_11_2015_001_044_004&type=P&artUrl=Murmurs-rise-in-BJP-will-Shah-be-proxy-09112015001044&eid=31808 ''The Times of India''], November 9, 2015|frame|500px]] | ||
| + | [[File: The impact of Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi's 30 rallies across five phases.jpg|The impact of Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi's 30 rallies across five phases; Graphic courtesy: [http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=NaMo-STAMP-09112015018042 ''The Times of India''], November 9, 2015|frame|500px]] | ||
''' ''Landslide may spur more `secular' pacts'' ''' | ''' ''Landslide may spur more `secular' pacts'' ''' | ||
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The Bihar election was billed as a grudge match between alliesturned-foes, as a virtual referendum on PM Modi's appeal, and as a fight between `secular' and `communal' forces. It also became about who was `Bihari' and `bahari' and a row over the DNA of the people of India's third most populous state. Most called it “too close to call“, exit polls were divided. There was nothing close about the verdict. Nitish Kumar on Sunday led the `secular' Mahagathbandhan or Grand Alliance to a landslide win over BJP-led NDA, avenging the humiliation Modi had inflicted on him in the Lok Sabha polls. This is the saffron alliance's second straight defeat -both crushing, but this one a lot more significant -after Delhi in February . | The Bihar election was billed as a grudge match between alliesturned-foes, as a virtual referendum on PM Modi's appeal, and as a fight between `secular' and `communal' forces. It also became about who was `Bihari' and `bahari' and a row over the DNA of the people of India's third most populous state. Most called it “too close to call“, exit polls were divided. There was nothing close about the verdict. Nitish Kumar on Sunday led the `secular' Mahagathbandhan or Grand Alliance to a landslide win over BJP-led NDA, avenging the humiliation Modi had inflicted on him in the Lok Sabha polls. This is the saffron alliance's second straight defeat -both crushing, but this one a lot more significant -after Delhi in February . | ||
MGB's stunning victory, which will whet the anti-BJP opposition's appetite for con frontation, represents a vote of confidence in Nitish's governance during his dec ade-long stint as chief min ister and could spur efforts to form Bihar-type `secular coalitions in other states. | MGB's stunning victory, which will whet the anti-BJP opposition's appetite for con frontation, represents a vote of confidence in Nitish's governance during his dec ade-long stint as chief min ister and could spur efforts to form Bihar-type `secular coalitions in other states. | ||
| − | |||
The win on the eve of Di wali also marked a spectacu lar comeback for Lalu Prasad who had been in the politica doldrums after suffering de cisive defeats in consecutive state and central polls. After finishing third with a paltry 22 seats in the last elections he has emerged as the single largest player in the 243-strong House with a tally of 80. | The win on the eve of Di wali also marked a spectacu lar comeback for Lalu Prasad who had been in the politica doldrums after suffering de cisive defeats in consecutive state and central polls. After finishing third with a paltry 22 seats in the last elections he has emerged as the single largest player in the 243-strong House with a tally of 80. | ||
| − | |||
While Nitish, who like Lalu is also an OBC (Other Back ward Caste; he's a Kurmi) projected development with social justice, the flamboyan Yadav chieftain unabashedly turned it into a backward vs forward caste struggle. | While Nitish, who like Lalu is also an OBC (Other Back ward Caste; he's a Kurmi) projected development with social justice, the flamboyan Yadav chieftain unabashedly turned it into a backward vs forward caste struggle. | ||
| − | |||
The win for Nitish, who now has a strong claim to be projected as the `secular' PM candidate in 2019, may signa the beginning of the cam paign for the next Lok Sabha polls, besides making things tougher for the government in Parliament. Lalu and Nitish as well as Rahul Gandhi, whose Congress rode on the coattails of the two Mandal warriors to return an astonishing high tally of 27 -the best since 1995 when it won 29 -all talked of a soon-to-be launched cam paign against the Centre. | The win for Nitish, who now has a strong claim to be projected as the `secular' PM candidate in 2019, may signa the beginning of the cam paign for the next Lok Sabha polls, besides making things tougher for the government in Parliament. Lalu and Nitish as well as Rahul Gandhi, whose Congress rode on the coattails of the two Mandal warriors to return an astonishing high tally of 27 -the best since 1995 when it won 29 -all talked of a soon-to-be launched cam paign against the Centre. | ||
| + | ''' Gulal leaves BJP workers red-faced''' | ||
| + | Early in the morning, BJP seemed to be leading, prompting bursting of crackers at its Patna HQ, even as workers applied colour on each other's faces. On TV, experts spoke of how Nitish had lost touch with voters. All that changed within a couple of hours, as celebrations gave way to disbelief and gloom.Many workers were seen hastily scrubbing colour off their faces. | ||
| + | ''' BJP single-largest party by voteshare ''' | ||
| + | BJP emerged as the single largest party in Bihar in terms of voteshare, getting almost 25% of the vote. However, this was largely due to the fact that it contested 157 seats, 56 more than Lalu Prasad's RJD, which finished as the secondlargest party with 18.6%. JD(U) was the only other party with voteshare in double digits, registering 16.6%.Independents got 9.4% votes. | ||
| + | ''' Worst show by BJP in state in 10 years''' | ||
| + | With 53 seats this time around, BJP's seat share is its lowest in the last three Bihar assemblies.Ironically, JD(U)'s 71 seats are also its worst show since the OctoberNovember elections in 2005. RJD's 80 seats is its best performance since the state was divided in 2000. Cong put up its best show since 1995. | ||
| + | ''' Nitish gets 5th innings as CM ''' | ||
| + | Nitish Kumar assumed the office of Bi har CM for a record fifth time. He is also the second longest serving CM of the state after Congress's Sri Krishna Sinha (1947-61). | ||
| + | Nitish was CM for 8 days in 2000 and won two terms in 2005 and 2010. In May 2014, he in stalled Jitan Ram Manjhi but returned to the post in February this year. Jagannath Misra (Congress) and Bhola Prasad Shastri (Cong O & Cong) have each held the post thrice. P 19 | ||
| + | ''' 2|3rds majority for second straight time ''' | ||
| + | The alliance fell just short of a 34ths majority but it's still the second straight election in which Bihar voters have handed a 23rds majority. In 2010, JD(U) BJP bagged 206 of 243 seats. Ex cept for Cong in 1951 and 1957 and Janata Party (1977), nobody else got a near-23rds majority. | ||
| + | ==WHAT WORKED FOR MAHAGATHBANDHAN== | ||
| + | The RJD-JD(U) pact ensured a core 34% vote ¬ Muslims, Yadavs and Kurmis ¬ giving Grand Alliance a potential advantage in many of Bihar's 243 seats. Cong eliminated split in anti-BJP vote, denying BJP advantage of the 2014 LS three-way contest | ||
| + | Lalu's recourse to caste war brought about a backward-forward polarisation. BJP bid to pull in EBCs through alliances failed. It was looking at a 15% upper caste vote but results indicate that even this calculation may have been off the mark | ||
| + | Projection of Nitish Kumar as CM cashed in on his goodwill and reassured those chary of Lalu raj | ||
| + | Lalu's `sacrifice' in agreeing to Nitish's projection as CM and parity in seat-sharing ¬ a big concession given their bitter feud in the past.Lalu was able to transfer his vote base to JD(U) and Congress | ||
| + | Lalu and Nitish jumped on Mohan Bhagwat's statement favouring a review of quotas to allege that BJP was conspiring to abolish caste-based reservation ¬ a damning charge as backwards and Dalits account for almost 70% of Bihar's population | ||
| + | The Nitish campaign, overseen by Prashant Kishor, who worked for BJP in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, blended innovative use of bicycles with social media | ||
| + | Muslims were persuaded to keep low profile to reduce `counter-polarisation' in BJP's favour | ||
| + | Support from `secular' politicians¬ from Kejriwal to Mamata ¬ and the uprising against intolerance attracted many neutrals. BJP's `divisive, communal' campaign around cow slaughter and Pakistan appears to have backfired | ||
| + | Modi's jibe about Nitish's DNA being prone to duplicity and betrayal was a misfire and seen as an affront to Biharis | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Owaisi and Mulayam could not dent the secular vote== | ||
| + | [http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=Spoilers-Owaisi-Mulayam-get-a-taste-of-Bahari-09112015018044 ''The Times of India''], Nov 09 2015 | ||
| + | |||
| + | Subodh Ghildiyal | ||
| + | | ||
| + | '''Spoilers Owaisi, Mulayam get a taste of Bahari sentiment''' | ||
| + | |||
| + | Mulayam Singh Yadav and Asaduddin Owaisi came out of the Bihar battle with bruised egos and battered credibility, failing to make any impact on the outcome while getting boxed as having done the BJP's bidding, albeit unsuccessfully. | ||
| + | The Yadav chieftain entered the polls as part of a `third front', breaking away from his “secular Samajwadis“ Nitish and Lalu. | ||
| + | |||
| + | He justified his decision saying that the Maha Gatbandhan had slighted him. But with virtually no pres ence in Bihar, Mulayam's bid to project himself as a genuh ine player failed to convince i anyone while reinforcing e the perception of him being a saffron proxy . His commo ent that Bihar was in the grip of a BJP wave only unders scored this view. | ||
| + | |||
| + | If it was baffling that Mu layam should divorce part ners and relatives -he being a father-in-law to Lalu's youngy est daughter -the Bihar out come is set to intensify the murmurs that the Centre has n a strong `influence' over him. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The SP chief 's decision to . help the government break the deadlock in Parliament during the monsoon session and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's high praise for him raised many an eyebrow. | ||
| − | ' | + | The general verdict is that CBI investigations into key scandals of SP-ruled Uttar Pradesh are the reason behind SP's bonhomie with BJP. After falling flat in Bihar, Mulayam is set to come under pressure to bond with the opposition in challenging the Centre. |
| − | + | The embarrassment for Hyderabad-based Owaisi is as acute. Known as a rabblerouser heading the Muslim outfit AIMIM, his decision to contest Bihar polls triggered a backlash from the “secular“ camp that he was a “BJP agent“ who was out to divide the Muslim vote. It was also said that his rabble-rousing speeches would result in religious polarization by neutralizing caste mobilization which the Nitish-Lalu alliance was banking on. | |
| − | + | The charge stuck because a minority split was BJP's best bet to whittle down the advantage that the rival alliance enjoyed in the crucial Seemanchal region. However, Owaisi drew a blank, showing no traction with the aware Bihari voter. | |
| − | + | ==Manjhi, Paswan, Kushwaha fared badly== | |
| + | [http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=Fringe-cut-Manjhi-Paswan-disappear-into-the-margins-09112015018034 ''The Times of India''], Nov 09 2015 | ||
| − | ''' | + | '''Fringe cut: Manjhi, Paswan disappear into the margins''' |
| + | | ||
| + | BJP was completely let down by three of its partners who together won only five out of the 83 seats they contested in Bihar. | ||
| + | Even former CM and leader of the newly formed Hindustani Awaam Morcha (HAM), Jitan Ram Manjhi, lost one of two seats he contested, a telling proof of how BJP overestimated him and offered his party 20 seats in pre-poll arrangements. | ||
| − | + | Similarly , Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan's LJP won only two out of 40 seats while another Union minister Upendra Kushwaha's Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) won two out of 23 seats it contested. In contrast, BJP -the biggest partner of the alli ance -won 53 out of 160 seats. | |
| − | + | It may be recalled that both Paswan and Manjhi had openly expressed their unhappiness over the seat sharing. The two wanted more seats to contest claiming their so-called hold over the Scheduled Caste (SC) voters. | |
| − | + | Three relatives of Paswan Pashupati Paras, Prince Raj and Sarita Paswan --lost their election from Alauli, Kalyanpur and Sonbarsha respectively. Similarly, Kuswaha's relative Sant Singh Kuswaha was defeated in Narkatia. | |
| − | + | ==Left Front fares badly== | |
| + | [http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=Left-Front-flops-biggies-draw-a-blank-09112015020042 ''The Times of India''], Nov 09 2015 | ||
| − | ''' | + | '''Left Front flops, biggies draw a blank''' |
| − | + | In their quest for a separate identity , three left parties -CPI, CPM, CPI (ML) -came together only to find that the gamble failed to make a splash. | |
| + | CPI (ML), strongest of the three in Bihar, has won two seats while in the third a narrow margin of victory resulted in Lok Janshakti Party demanding recounting. Till last reports, CPI (ML)'s Mehboob Alam was winning in Balrampur in Katihar and Satyadev Ram was winning in Darauli.In Tarari, after CPI (ML) candidate Sudama Prasad was declared a winner with a margin of 129 votes, LJP demanded retotalling. | ||
| + | CPI and CPM have drawn blank. Bachchwara in Begusarai held by CPI has gone to Congress. CPI has come second in Bakhri while CPM, weakest of the three Left parties, came third in Manjhi. | ||
=Women candidates and women voter in Bihar Assembly polls= | =Women candidates and women voter in Bihar Assembly polls= | ||
Revision as of 07:46, 15 November 2015
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This is a collection of articles archived for the excellence of their content. |
Contents |
Bihar poll toppers: 1951-2010
1951-2015: Caste composition of the Bihar Legislative Assembly
Bihar, Election trends, Assembly and Lok Sabha: 2005-2014
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2010: Bihar Assembly election
2010 elections: Victory margins
The Times of India, Oct 06 2015
Atul Thakur 48 seats saw win margins under 5k in 1010
Several close calls can add up to an electoral sweep
Even a contest that is largely bipolar and pro duces a decisive verdict in a state need not produce decisive mandates from seat to seat, as the 2010 polls in Bihar illustrate. An analysis of the 2010 results shows that the onesided verdict in which the JD(U)-BJP combine won 206 of the 243 seats against just 25 for the RJD-LJP alliance nevertheless saw a lot of close seat level contests.
In fact, the winning candidate got a majority of the votes polled in less than 10% of the seats. BJP won in 12 of these constituencies while JD (U) won 11. There were another 91 constituencies where the winning candidate polled between 40% and 50% of the valid votes.Of these, 47 seats went to the JD (U) while the BJP and RJD won in 32 and 11 such seats respectively .
It is interesting to note that in more than half the seats in a largely bipolar contest the winning candidate got less than 40% of the votes. Indeed, there were 29 constituencies where the winner got less than even 30% of the votes polled. Despite sweeping the elections, the winning candidates of the JD(U)-BJP alliance were more or less evenly distributed across all these ranges.
The closeness of the contests at the seat level is revealed also in the victory margins in the 2010 elections. There were 48 constituencies where the victory margin was less than 5,000 votes. The JD(U) won 17 of these seats, the RJD 12 and BJP 11.This clearly sugBATTL gests that even a marginal swing in BI the votes could have thrown up a significantly different outcome in terms of party tallies, though the overall re sult would not have changed.
The average margin was about 15,000 votes. In 145 seats, or about 60% of the total, the vic tory margin was less than this average of 15,000 votes. Interest ingly, in the 98 conEGROUND stituencies where HAR the margin was higher than the av erage the winning alliance was successful in all but one.
It is also instructive to note that despite the essentially bipolar nature of the contest, 35.4% of the votes polled did not go to either of the two major combines.The Congress won 8.4% and smaller parties and independents mopped up a sizeable 27%.
Clearly, therefore, what is bipolar at the state-wide level can become quite multi-cornered at the micro level. That explains why so much effort goes into micro managing the details.
2010-15
2015
The Times of India, Nov 09 2015
Landslide may spur more `secular' pacts
The Bihar election was billed as a grudge match between alliesturned-foes, as a virtual referendum on PM Modi's appeal, and as a fight between `secular' and `communal' forces. It also became about who was `Bihari' and `bahari' and a row over the DNA of the people of India's third most populous state. Most called it “too close to call“, exit polls were divided. There was nothing close about the verdict. Nitish Kumar on Sunday led the `secular' Mahagathbandhan or Grand Alliance to a landslide win over BJP-led NDA, avenging the humiliation Modi had inflicted on him in the Lok Sabha polls. This is the saffron alliance's second straight defeat -both crushing, but this one a lot more significant -after Delhi in February . MGB's stunning victory, which will whet the anti-BJP opposition's appetite for con frontation, represents a vote of confidence in Nitish's governance during his dec ade-long stint as chief min ister and could spur efforts to form Bihar-type `secular coalitions in other states. The win on the eve of Di wali also marked a spectacu lar comeback for Lalu Prasad who had been in the politica doldrums after suffering de cisive defeats in consecutive state and central polls. After finishing third with a paltry 22 seats in the last elections he has emerged as the single largest player in the 243-strong House with a tally of 80. While Nitish, who like Lalu is also an OBC (Other Back ward Caste; he's a Kurmi) projected development with social justice, the flamboyan Yadav chieftain unabashedly turned it into a backward vs forward caste struggle. The win for Nitish, who now has a strong claim to be projected as the `secular' PM candidate in 2019, may signa the beginning of the cam paign for the next Lok Sabha polls, besides making things tougher for the government in Parliament. Lalu and Nitish as well as Rahul Gandhi, whose Congress rode on the coattails of the two Mandal warriors to return an astonishing high tally of 27 -the best since 1995 when it won 29 -all talked of a soon-to-be launched cam paign against the Centre. Gulal leaves BJP workers red-faced Early in the morning, BJP seemed to be leading, prompting bursting of crackers at its Patna HQ, even as workers applied colour on each other's faces. On TV, experts spoke of how Nitish had lost touch with voters. All that changed within a couple of hours, as celebrations gave way to disbelief and gloom.Many workers were seen hastily scrubbing colour off their faces. BJP single-largest party by voteshare BJP emerged as the single largest party in Bihar in terms of voteshare, getting almost 25% of the vote. However, this was largely due to the fact that it contested 157 seats, 56 more than Lalu Prasad's RJD, which finished as the secondlargest party with 18.6%. JD(U) was the only other party with voteshare in double digits, registering 16.6%.Independents got 9.4% votes. Worst show by BJP in state in 10 years With 53 seats this time around, BJP's seat share is its lowest in the last three Bihar assemblies.Ironically, JD(U)'s 71 seats are also its worst show since the OctoberNovember elections in 2005. RJD's 80 seats is its best performance since the state was divided in 2000. Cong put up its best show since 1995. Nitish gets 5th innings as CM Nitish Kumar assumed the office of Bi har CM for a record fifth time. He is also the second longest serving CM of the state after Congress's Sri Krishna Sinha (1947-61). Nitish was CM for 8 days in 2000 and won two terms in 2005 and 2010. In May 2014, he in stalled Jitan Ram Manjhi but returned to the post in February this year. Jagannath Misra (Congress) and Bhola Prasad Shastri (Cong O & Cong) have each held the post thrice. P 19 2|3rds majority for second straight time The alliance fell just short of a 34ths majority but it's still the second straight election in which Bihar voters have handed a 23rds majority. In 2010, JD(U) BJP bagged 206 of 243 seats. Ex cept for Cong in 1951 and 1957 and Janata Party (1977), nobody else got a near-23rds majority.
WHAT WORKED FOR MAHAGATHBANDHAN
The RJD-JD(U) pact ensured a core 34% vote ¬ Muslims, Yadavs and Kurmis ¬ giving Grand Alliance a potential advantage in many of Bihar's 243 seats. Cong eliminated split in anti-BJP vote, denying BJP advantage of the 2014 LS three-way contest Lalu's recourse to caste war brought about a backward-forward polarisation. BJP bid to pull in EBCs through alliances failed. It was looking at a 15% upper caste vote but results indicate that even this calculation may have been off the mark Projection of Nitish Kumar as CM cashed in on his goodwill and reassured those chary of Lalu raj Lalu's `sacrifice' in agreeing to Nitish's projection as CM and parity in seat-sharing ¬ a big concession given their bitter feud in the past.Lalu was able to transfer his vote base to JD(U) and Congress Lalu and Nitish jumped on Mohan Bhagwat's statement favouring a review of quotas to allege that BJP was conspiring to abolish caste-based reservation ¬ a damning charge as backwards and Dalits account for almost 70% of Bihar's population The Nitish campaign, overseen by Prashant Kishor, who worked for BJP in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, blended innovative use of bicycles with social media Muslims were persuaded to keep low profile to reduce `counter-polarisation' in BJP's favour Support from `secular' politicians¬ from Kejriwal to Mamata ¬ and the uprising against intolerance attracted many neutrals. BJP's `divisive, communal' campaign around cow slaughter and Pakistan appears to have backfired Modi's jibe about Nitish's DNA being prone to duplicity and betrayal was a misfire and seen as an affront to Biharis
Owaisi and Mulayam could not dent the secular vote
The Times of India, Nov 09 2015
Subodh Ghildiyal Spoilers Owaisi, Mulayam get a taste of Bahari sentiment
Mulayam Singh Yadav and Asaduddin Owaisi came out of the Bihar battle with bruised egos and battered credibility, failing to make any impact on the outcome while getting boxed as having done the BJP's bidding, albeit unsuccessfully. The Yadav chieftain entered the polls as part of a `third front', breaking away from his “secular Samajwadis“ Nitish and Lalu.
He justified his decision saying that the Maha Gatbandhan had slighted him. But with virtually no pres ence in Bihar, Mulayam's bid to project himself as a genuh ine player failed to convince i anyone while reinforcing e the perception of him being a saffron proxy . His commo ent that Bihar was in the grip of a BJP wave only unders scored this view.
If it was baffling that Mu layam should divorce part ners and relatives -he being a father-in-law to Lalu's youngy est daughter -the Bihar out come is set to intensify the murmurs that the Centre has n a strong `influence' over him.
The SP chief 's decision to . help the government break the deadlock in Parliament during the monsoon session and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's high praise for him raised many an eyebrow.
The general verdict is that CBI investigations into key scandals of SP-ruled Uttar Pradesh are the reason behind SP's bonhomie with BJP. After falling flat in Bihar, Mulayam is set to come under pressure to bond with the opposition in challenging the Centre.
The embarrassment for Hyderabad-based Owaisi is as acute. Known as a rabblerouser heading the Muslim outfit AIMIM, his decision to contest Bihar polls triggered a backlash from the “secular“ camp that he was a “BJP agent“ who was out to divide the Muslim vote. It was also said that his rabble-rousing speeches would result in religious polarization by neutralizing caste mobilization which the Nitish-Lalu alliance was banking on.
The charge stuck because a minority split was BJP's best bet to whittle down the advantage that the rival alliance enjoyed in the crucial Seemanchal region. However, Owaisi drew a blank, showing no traction with the aware Bihari voter.
Manjhi, Paswan, Kushwaha fared badly
The Times of India, Nov 09 2015
Fringe cut: Manjhi, Paswan disappear into the margins BJP was completely let down by three of its partners who together won only five out of the 83 seats they contested in Bihar. Even former CM and leader of the newly formed Hindustani Awaam Morcha (HAM), Jitan Ram Manjhi, lost one of two seats he contested, a telling proof of how BJP overestimated him and offered his party 20 seats in pre-poll arrangements.
Similarly , Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan's LJP won only two out of 40 seats while another Union minister Upendra Kushwaha's Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) won two out of 23 seats it contested. In contrast, BJP -the biggest partner of the alli ance -won 53 out of 160 seats.
It may be recalled that both Paswan and Manjhi had openly expressed their unhappiness over the seat sharing. The two wanted more seats to contest claiming their so-called hold over the Scheduled Caste (SC) voters.
Three relatives of Paswan Pashupati Paras, Prince Raj and Sarita Paswan --lost their election from Alauli, Kalyanpur and Sonbarsha respectively. Similarly, Kuswaha's relative Sant Singh Kuswaha was defeated in Narkatia.
Left Front fares badly
The Times of India, Nov 09 2015
Left Front flops, biggies draw a blank
In their quest for a separate identity , three left parties -CPI, CPM, CPI (ML) -came together only to find that the gamble failed to make a splash. CPI (ML), strongest of the three in Bihar, has won two seats while in the third a narrow margin of victory resulted in Lok Janshakti Party demanding recounting. Till last reports, CPI (ML)'s Mehboob Alam was winning in Balrampur in Katihar and Satyadev Ram was winning in Darauli.In Tarari, after CPI (ML) candidate Sudama Prasad was declared a winner with a margin of 129 votes, LJP demanded retotalling. CPI and CPM have drawn blank. Bachchwara in Begusarai held by CPI has gone to Congress. CPI has come second in Bakhri while CPM, weakest of the three Left parties, came third in Manjhi.
Women candidates and women voter in Bihar Assembly polls
