Bihar polls: Final phase begins, PM says "set new record"

In the ongoing phase, the NDA government faces a challenge in areas like Seemanchal (Kishanganj, Araria, Katihar, and Purnea), Kosi (Supaul, Saharsa, and Madhepura), Mithila (Darbhanga and Madhubani), and Tirhut (Muzaffarpur and Sitamarhi).

It is said that RJD has an upper hand in the Seemanchal belt.

However, AIMIM, whose 16 candidates are in the fray today, might eat into RJD's share.

Further, RJD could also suffer losses in the Kosi-Seemanchal region, thanks to former MP Pappu Yadav. His party Jan Adhikar Party is hoping to leave a mark in these elections and send a message to RJD. Yadav enjoys quite the clout there.

Chirag Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party has also fielded a number of candidates, posing a direct challenge to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

The list of known politicians, testing their luck today, includes Nikhil Mandal from the JD(U) who is fielded from Madhepura. He is the grandson of the ex-Chief Minister and head of Mandal Commission, BP Mandal.

Other notable faces in the fray are Subhashini Yadav, Sharad Yadav's daughter who is fighting on a Congress ticket, and NDA ally VIP's leader Mukesh Sahani, contesting from Bihariganj and Simri Bakhtiarpur constituencies respectively.

The high-stake polls, which come to an end today, saw intense campaigning by all the three major players — NDA, RJD-led grand alliance, and LJP.

PM Modi attended as many as 12 rallies, launched attacks on RJD's tenure, and promoted Kumar.

On Thursday, he wrote an open letter to Bihar residents, saying Kumar was "needed" to ensure the state's development continues.

In the four-page letter written in Hindi, PM Modi said, "I need Nitish Kumar's government in Bihar to ensure that the state's development is not derailed and that it doesn't fall short."

"Votes are being cast not for false promises but for strong (political) will/intentions. Not for bad governance, but for good governance. Not for corruption, but for honesty," he told Bihar residents.

Meanwhile, hust days before the final phase of polls, Kumar announced the current elections are his last, triggering surprise in political corridors.

"All is well that ends well. This is my last election. Will you vote for the JD(U) or not?" he had said.

Later, JD(U) rushed to clarify, saying that CM was referring to the last day of campaigning.