NDA's latest posters in Patna show the 'Bihari' star power of BJP and its allies.
New posters in Patna suggest that the BJP has tweaked its Bihar strategy once again, this time to combat the Nitish Kumar-
Lalu Yadav campaign that asks voters whether they want to be led by a "Bihari" or a "Bahari" (outsider).
It is
a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, around whom the BJP has built its campaign, choosing not to project a chief ministerial candidate.
Till a day ago,
BJP posters in the state featured only PM Modi and party chief Amit Shah.
Overnight, however, BJP allies and Union Ministers Ram Vilas Paswan and Upendra Kushwaha, former Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, also an ally, and several local BJP leaders have debuted on posters and hoardings dotting the Bihar capital. All of them are "Biharis".
BJP leaders here say this has been part of its strategy in Bihar all along and that the Modi-Shah posters are still a part of the political landscape.
The new posters coincide with a 10-day period that will see no visit to the state by
PM Modi, who has already addressed a blitz of rallies, drawing massive crowds.
The Prime Minister will be in Bihar next only on October 25, after the Navratri festival and then will address about 12 to 13 rallies till November 3, when campaigning ends.
Elections are being held in Bihar in five phases;
the second phase will be held today.
Votes will be counted on November 8. Bihar chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who is seeking a third straight term and is leading an alliance that includes Lalu Yadav's RJD and the Congress, has repeatedly told voters in the last two weeks, "You have to decide. Do you want a Bihari to govern Bihar, or do you want outsiders with no understanding of the ground situation here?"
"Why is Narendra Modi the face of the BJP? Does he want to be chief minster? Next there will be a panchayat election and they will make him the face," Mr Kumar said at a recent election rally to much applause.