After Holi break, campaign to pick up in Bihar

Patna, March 18 (IANS) After a welcome break for festivity and much-needed rest thanks to Holi, the campaign of different parties for the Lok Sabha polls is expected to pick up in Bihar.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his archrival Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad will start campaigning from March 19, after resting for the last two days.

"Nitish Kumar is meeting his party Janata Dal-United leaders and workers at his official residence as there is neither a public meeting nor any other programme planned for Tuesday," an official at the chief minister office told IANS.

According to JD-U leaders close to Nitish Kumar, he will start campaigning Wednesday.

"The JD-U has already announced candidates for 38 of 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar which the party is contesting," a JD-U leader said. The party has left two seats to its ally the CPI.

Nitish Kumar has already completed the first phase of his 'Sankalp Yatra' last week and is likely to start the second phase this week to inform people about denial of special category status to Bihar by the Congress-led UPA government and his commitment to continue the fight for the long-pending demand.

Lalu Prasad too did not seem Tuesday, a day after Holi, keen to talk about politics in public.

"Laluji will start campaigning two days after Holi. He will address at least half a dozen public meetings in rural areas a day as per plan," RJD leader Ejaj Ahmad said.

Ahmad said that Lalu has taken complete rest during the last two days after weeks of election meetings for the polls.

BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi addressed his last rally in the state's Purnea district March 10 while his Gaya rally March 14 was cancelled due to his preoccupation with the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections.

"With Holi now over, Modi will address at least two rallies in Bihar this month," a BJP leader said.

Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) chief Ram Vilas Paswan, who joined hands with the BJP, too will hit the campaign trail March 19.