Patna: The NDA launched a joint campaign on Tuesday for its eight candidates in the Oct 23 Bihar legislative council elections for four graduate and four teachers’ constituencies, with senior functionaries addressing public meetings in Nawada and Nalanda to mobilise support.Deputy CM Vijay Kumar Choudhary, BJP state president Sanjay Saraogi, JD(U) state president Umesh Singh Kushwaha, ministers Pramod Kumar Chandravanshi, Nishant Kumar and Shravan Kumar, RLM functionary and minister Deepak Prakash, LJP(RV) MP Arun Bharti and HAM(S) MLA Deepa Manjhi were among those who campaigned for BJP candidate Nawal Kishore Yadav and JD(U) nominee Neeraj Kumar.Nawada MLA Vibha Devi and Hisua MLA Anil Singh also attended the meetings. Yadav is seeking to retain the Patna teachers’ constituency, while Neeraj is contesting the Patna graduates’ seat amid a rebellion by JD(U) MLA Anant Singh, who is campaigning for Jan Suraaj candidate Anuj Kumar Singh.Addressing voters in Nalanda, Nishant Kumar, son of former CM Nitish Kumar, appealed to them to support both NDA candidates, saying the alliance had delivered on development and education. He said the election concerned not merely electing MLCs but also education, teachers’ dignity and Bihar’s future.“The NDA govt has always worked in the interest of teachers and youth,” Nishant said, citing teacher recruitment, school development and improvements in higher education as examples of its achievements. He also accused opponents of spreading misinformation, asserting that educated voters understood the reality.Saraogi said NDA govt had worked for the welfare of all sections of society. He highlighted the 10% reservation for economically weaker sections from the general category, saying it had expanded opportunities in education, healthcare and govt employment. He also credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership for the country’s progress in self-reliance and development. Saraogi said the state govt, under CM Samrat Choudhary, was committed to accelerating development.Kushwaha, in an apparent reference to the Lalu Prasad-Rabri Devi regime, said Bihar had moved from Charwaha Vidyalayas to computer education under Nitish Kumar’s leadership. Meanwhile, JD(U) workers in Nalanda raised slogans demanding that Nishant be made Bihar’s CM, adding a political dimension to the campaign.
