RJD accuses NDA government of misuse of power ahead of bypolls

Two Assembly seats in Bihar are up for elections on October 30

A day before the bypolls for two seats in Bihar, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav on Friday accused the Nitish Kumar-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government of putting pressure on officials to influence voters in favour of the Janata Dal-United (JD-U) candidate. Mr. Yadav also alleged that the Nitish Kumar government has been distributing liquor, sarees and money to voters.

“Officials are putting pressure to make people vote for a specific party candidate. The Nitish Kumar-led government is also distributing liquor and sarees to women in the name of the upcoming festival of Chhath in constituencies going to poll tomorrow (October 30) to influence their vote for a particular party candidate,” alleged the RJD leader who is also the Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly. Bypolls for both seats — Tarapur in Munger and Kusheshwarsthan in Darbhanga district — is scheduled to take place on October 30 and results will be announced on November 2. Both the ruling JD(U) and the principal Opposition party, the RJD, are locked in close contest on both the seats. The Congress and the Lok Janshakti Party too have put up their candidates for the bypolls.