THE NDA ALLIANCE RALLIED IN SUPPORT OF KANHAIYA

THE NDA ALLIANCE RALLIED IN SUPPORT OF KANHAIYA

21-APRIL-ENG 5

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA--------------------------Addressing an election rally following Kanhaiya Prasad's nomination filing, Awadhesh Narain Singh, Chairman of the Bihar Legislative Council, stated that Mr. Prasad is the NDA's official candidate and shares a deep connection with his own native soil (birthplace); for this reason, he could not restrain himself and felt compelled to address the gathering. This marks the first NDA election rally held in Bihar since Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's departure from the state. This is no ordinary by-election. By granting the party ticket to Kanhaiya—son of Radha Charan Sah, the JDU MLA from Sandesh—Nitish Kumar has fielded him as the NDA candidate for the Bhojpur-cum-Buxar Local Authorities' Constituency. This move aims to send a clear message: just as the *Mahagathbandhan* (Grand Alliance) was wiped out in the Shahabad region, they are to be similarly eliminated from this constituency, thereby further strengthening the hands of Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary. The Chairman made these remarks today while addressing the election rally organized at the Ramlila Maidan in Arrah, held immediately after Kanhaiya Prasad's nomination filing. The election rally was presided over by Durga Raj, the BJP District President for Bhojpur, and was anchored by Rajeshwar Paswan, the LJP District President. The rally was addressed by a host of leaders from the Bhojpur-cum-Buxar constituency, including former Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar Vijay Sinha, JDU State President Umesh Kushwaha, Minister Leshi Singh, HAM National President Santosh Kumar Suman, MLAs Mahesh Paswan and Shri Bhagwan Singh Kushwaha, LJP Parliamentary Board Chairman Hulash Pandey, BJP MLA from Shahpur Rakesh Vishweshwar Ojha, Mayor Indu Devi, Surendra Singh of the Kunwar Sena, and former MP from Arrah, Meena Singh.

It is pertinent to note that the JDU has fielded Kanhaiya Prasad—son of Radha Charan Sah, the MLC representing the Bhojpur-cum-Buxar constituency—to contest the election for this seat, which fell vacant after Mr. Sah was elected as the party's MLA from the Sandesh assembly constituency. The electorate for this election consists not of the general public, but rather of representatives from the three-tier Panchayat system—such as members of the District Council, Municipal Corporation, and Ward Committees, as well as *Mukhiyas* (village heads)—numbering approximately 6,000 across the Bhojpur and Buxar regions. All in all, it can be said that following Nitish Kumar's departure, the entire NDA contingent traveled from Patna today to the Ramlila Maidan in Arrah city to campaign for the victory of Kanhaiya Prasad—the son of MLA Radha Charan Sah—and to demonstrate their strength and unity among the voters in support of Mr. Prasad.