Bihar, which is voting in all seven phases in the ongoing elections, sends 40 members to the Lok Sabha. Of the total seats, 14 seats have already voted in the three phases held on April 19, 26 and May 7. Darbhanga, Ujiarpur, Samastipur, Begusarai and Munger are the five Lok Sabha constituencies which will go to polls in the fourth phase.
In the 3rd phase, 60% voter turnout was recorded across the five constituencies (Jhanjarpur, Supaul, Araria, Madhepura and Khagaria) which voted on May 7.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Janata Dal (United) and the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) are the key parties of the NDA in Bihar contesting the polls. The INDIA (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance) bloc comprises Congress and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).
These are the key constituencies and candidates to watch out for in Phase 4:
Begusarai: Currently represented by Union minister Giriraj Singh, Begusarai is one of the most crucial Lok Sabha constituencies of Bihar. This general category seat is a stronghold of the Bhumihar caste. Several candidates who have won from Begusarai belong to the Bhumihar caste, including the sitting MP. The saffron party has once again fielded Singh, who defeated Communist Party of India's (CPI) Kanhaiya Kumar by a margin of over 4.2 lakh votes in 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Awadhesh Kumar Rai (Yadav) of the CPI, which last tasted victory in Begusarai in 1967, will take on Singh in the May 13 election. In his affidavit, Giriraj Singh declared assets worth Rs 10.16 crore.
Darbhanga: This is one of the 40 constituencies of Bihar which is dominated by Maithil Brahmin caste. The Darbhanga Lok Sabha constituency has been held by the BJP since 2009 with Gopal Jee Thakur being the sitting MP. In 2019 elections, Thakur defeated RJD leader Abdul Bari Siddiqui by a margin of over 2.67 lakh votes. Thakur, who pitted against RJD leader Lalit Kumar Yadav, is eyeing his second straight win fromm the seat. Former cricketer Kirti Azad emerged victorious from Darbhanga in 1999, 2009 and 2014 Lok Sabha elections as a BJP candidate. He switched to the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in 2021.
Also read | Bihar Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Key parties, past results, constituencies and more
Munger: Once a Congress stronghold, Munger Lok Sabha constituency is currently represented by JD(U) leader Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh. The former JD(U) president will take on RJD's Anita Devi Mahto, wife of convicted gangster Ashok Mahto. Lalan Singh, who defeated Congress' Nilam Devi in 2019 elections, is eyeing his fourth win from Munger. He first emerged victorious from the constituency in 2009 but lost to LJP leader Veena Devi in 2014.
Ujiarpur: The constituency which came into existence in 2008 has been held by the BJP since 2014. Union minister Nityanand Rai emerged victorious from Ujiarpur in 2014 elections by defeating RJD's Alok Kumar Mehta. He retained the seat in 2019 and is seeking re-election from Ujiarpur. Rai declared movable and immovable assets totaling Rs 15.45 crore in his affidavit. In 2009, JD(U) leader Ashwamedh Devi had won the elections by defeating Alok Kumar Mehta of RJD.
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