Campaign ends for last round of Bihar polls

Curtains came down this evening on campaigning for 57 seats going to poll in the fifth and last phase of bitterly-fought Bihar assembly elections on November five, with acrimonious exchanges provoking showcause notices from the Election Commission to top leaders of rival alliances. The 57 seats, including 24 in the Seemanchal region bordering West Bengal, are spread over nine districts of Madhubani, Darbhanga, Supual, Madhepura, Saharsa, Araria, Kisanganj, Purnea and Katihar. Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the charge on behalf of the NDA, which has not declared a chief ministerial candidate, and launched a blistering attack on the JD(U)-RJD-Congress grand alliance. Wrapping up his campaign blitzkrieg a day before electioneering ended, Modi raked up the issue of 1984 anti-sikh riots to mount a counteroffensive on Congress president Sonia Gandhi, saying she has no moral right to lecture NDA on tolerance and the party should "hang its head in shame" over the carnage. Modi, who addressed around 30 election rallies, unusual for a Prime Minister in a state poll, repeatedly referred to alleged attempts being made by the grand alliance to "snatch away" a part of the quotas meant for dalits, tribals and backward classes and give it to a "particular community on the basis of religion". He also accused the grand alliance leaders of playing with nation's security by "sheltering" those promoting terror and asked if such people should be allowed to form government in the state. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and RJD boss led the counter attack against Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah, who said in a controversial statement that celebratory firecrackers will be burst in Pakistan if BJP lost Bihar. Hitting back, Kumar said Mumbai and Amritsar will witness "maximum fireworks" if BJP lost, apparently referring to strained relations of the party with its allies in Maharashtra and Punjab. Kumar also sought to turn tables on Modi, who scoffed at his meeting with an occultist, as he targeted the Prime Minister, rally after election rally, for allegedly consulting astrologer Bejan Daruwala. Days ahead of the last phase of poll, the Election panel issued show cause notice to BJP chief Shah for his firecrackers remark, contending it had the potential to "disturb harmony". The Commission also issued similar notices to Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi for his comment that "BJP makes Hindus and Muslims fight each other" and to Lalu for calling Shah a "cannibal".