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In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, elections are being fought in seven phases for 40 important seats of Bihar. RJD is contesting the elections as an alliance partner in the India block. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is in alliance with its National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partners – Nitish Kumar-led Janata Dal (United) and Chirag Paswan-led Lok Janshakti Party (LJP).
‘unbearable pain’
After the first two phases of the election, in the middle of his campaign, doctors advised Tejashwi to rest for three weeks to treat back pain. However, ignoring medical advice, the 34-year-old leader has continued with the election campaign.
On May 3, Tejashwi shared a video of one of his rallies on social media. In the video, he had lifted his shirt and tied a belt around his waist, which he was wearing to get relief from back pain.
Tejashwi tweeted in Hindi, “I am taking painkiller injections and medicines for unbearable back pain. I am also wearing a belt.” Since then, the RJD leader has continued his campaign, addressing large crowds at his public meetings, sometimes even in a wheelchair.
Tejashwi had sparked a political war of words between RJD and BJP in one of his speeches on the issue of back pain, when he had claimed that he would not rest until PM Modi went on ‘bed rest’. RJD later had to clarify that their leader meant ‘political bed rest’ and not literal ‘bed rest’.
Many say Tejashwi has no choice but to campaign, especially given the health of his ailing father and former Bihar chief minister Lalu Prasad Yadav.
Important competition
The 2024 Lok Sabha elections are a crucial battle for Tejashwi Yadav, who was deputy chief minister in the Nitish Kumar government until January this year when the JD-U chief decided to join the NDA from the India Bloc.
Lalu Prasad Yadav-led RJD has been out of power in Bihar since 2005, except for its 17-month coalition government with JD-U, which ended earlier this year. However, after Tejashwi’s political debut nine years ago, the party’s vote share has increased.
Also Read: ‘We have overcome…’: Tejashwi Yadav’s ‘We have won’ comment ahead of Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Phase 5
In the 2020 assembly elections, RJD, led by Tejashwi in its campaign, emerged as the largest party in Bihar by securing 75 seats out of 243 and 23.5 per cent vote share.
NDA had won 39 out of 40 seats in Bihar in 2019. Among its allies, BJP had won 17 seats, JD-U 16 and LJP six in 2019. RJD did not win any seats, while Congress won just one seat from Bihar in the 2019 elections.
NDA vs India
With two phases of the Lok Sabha 2024 elections still to be held on May 25 and June 1, Tejashwi Yadav has already addressed around 183 public meetings across Bihar, according to a report. Indian Express,
Among other India Block leaders, Rahul Gandhi has campaigned in Bihar only once so far. Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge has also held a few meetings. As things stand, India Block is completely dependent on Tejashwi Yadav for its prospects in these elections.
Also read: ‘Jhunjhunu pakada diya’: Netizens mock Nitish Kumar for standing next to PM Modi during Lok Sabha election rally in Patna
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has held 13 rallies so far and Union Minister Amit Shah has held about six public meetings in Bihar. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has also addressed rallies in Bihar.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has addressed more than four dozen public rallies.
Five lakh jobs
Similar to the 2020 assembly elections, Tejashwi’s campaign largely targets the youth, a reference to the five lakh job appointments made during his tenure as Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar. He has promised that India Block will provide employment to more than one crore youth.
Also read: Lok Sabha Elections 2024: ‘BJP’s target of crossing 400 seats this time is completely imaginary’, Shashi Tharoor explains why
Recently, Tejashwi has also started including Bharat Bloc’s promises of providing 10 kg free ration in his speeches. Rs 1 lakh annually to one woman per family. This is different from the usual Indian Bloc campaign against Modi, which revolves around the ‘need to save the Constitution’.
,300 pairs’
Earlier this week, Tejashwi claimed that the India Bloc has already won the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and crossed 300 seats. Tejashwi made the remarks a day before the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections 2024, which took place on May 20, in which polling was held in 49 constituencies. “We have won. We have already crossed 300 (seats),” Yadav said on May 19.
Voting has been completed for 428 out of 543 seats in five phases of the Lok Sabha elections. Voting for the remaining two phases will be held on May 25 and June 1. Counting of votes for all seven phases will take place on June 4.
The BJP-led NDA, which is trying to gain power for a record third time, has set a target of winning 400 seats in this election. Opposition parties led by the Congress under the banner of India Block are challenging the ruling coalition.
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Published: May 23, 2024, 10:45 am IST
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