Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched a scathing attack on Lalu Prasad, accusing him of neglecting the welfare of backward classes and his own caste. He alleged that RJD’s return to power would bring back ‘jungle raj’ and corruption to Bihar. Shah also criticized the Congress and RJD for allegedly attempting to divert reservations from SCs, STs, and OBCs to Muslims.
A clash between Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supporters in Saran, Bihar, on May 21 left two dead and one injured. The violence erupted after RJD candidate Rohini Acharya visited a polling booth and got into an argument with some people. Following the clash, the police opened fire, killing one person on the spot and another in the hospital. A third person is undergoing treatment in Patna. The incident has led to allegations of foul play by Ms. Acharya, who claims that the BJP is attempting to undermine democracy. The Saran Police have suspended the Internet for 48 hours and detained two people in connection with the incident.
The Samastipur Lok Sabha constituency in Bihar, scheduled to vote on May 13th, is facing a lack of employment opportunities and industrial decline. Key demands of the voters include the revival of closed industries, job creation, and infrastructure development. The constituency is also lacking adequate infrastructure, with traffic congestion and waterlogging during monsoon season being major issues.
Bollywood actress Neha Sharma has actively campaigned for her father, Ajit Sharma, who is contesting from the Bhagalpur Lok Sabha seat under the Indian National Congress banner. Despite earlier speculations about her own entry into politics, Neha has focused on supporting her father’s campaign.
In a twist of events, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav urged voters to support his party’s candidate, Bima Bharti, and also sought votes for the NDA candidate in Purnia, Bihar. Yadav’s unusual request stems from his desire to defeat independent candidate Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav, who poses a strong challenge in the three-cornered battle. Pappu Yadav, a former RJD leader, returned to Purnia this year and has gained significant support through his relief work during the pandemic and floods.
