Ara: Rival alliances NDA and INDIA bloc held parallel show-of-strength rallies on Monday in Ara as their candidates filed nominations for the legislative council byelection from the Bhojpur-Buxar Local Authorities constituency.Kanhaiya Prasad, son of JD(U) Sandesh MLA Radha Charan Shah alias Seth ji, filed nomination as the NDA-backed candidate. His main challenger, RJD’s Sonu Kumar Rai, son of former MLC Lal Das Rai, filed papers as the INDIA bloc nominee.Both sides organised large poll meetings after the nominations. At the NDA rally held at Ramna Maidan, legislative council chairperson Awadhesh Narain Singh said the bypoll carried political significance and expressed confidence in NDA’s victory in the Shahabad region. Several NDA leaders, including JD(U) state president Umesh Kushwaha and former deputy CM Vijay Sinha, campaigned for Kanhaiya Prasad.The INDIA bloc held its meeting at Maharaja College grounds, attended by leaders such as former Union minister Kanti Singh and MP Sudhakar Singh. Addressing the gathering, Sudhakar Singh said the alliance stood for social justice and development, backing Sonu Rai as a committed candidate.The bypoll will be held on May 12, with counting on May 14. Around 6,000 local body representatives will vote.
