Polling will take place in the seven districts of Bihar in 55 assembly seats on November 1.
A bitter war of words between the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the grand alliance of Janata Dal (United)-Rashtriya Janata Dal-Congress rang down the curtains on the campaign for the penultimate and fourth phase of polling for 55 seats in Bihar Assembly elections on November 1.
Polling will take place in the seven districts of Muzaffarpur, Siwan, Sheohar, West Champaran, East Champaran, Sitamarhi and Gopalganj where an estimated 1.47 crore electorate are eligible to cast vote in 13,535 polling stations to select their representatives from among 776 candidates in the fray.
Among prominent personalities who are in the fray in the fourth phase are senior ministerial colleagues of chief minister Nitish Kumar-- Ramai Ram (Bochaha, SC seat), Ranju Geeta (Bajpatti) and Manoj Kushwaha (Kudni).
Considering the results of last assembly elections in 2010, stakes are high for BJP in the fourth phase of polls. They had won 26 out of the total 55 seats of this phase in 2010, JD(U) had emerged victorious in 24, RJD had two and three Independents.
RJD led by Lalu Prasad has fielded its candidates from a maximum 26 constituencies this time followed by JD(U) 21 and Congress is contesting on eight seats.
From NDA, BJP has fielded its nominees in 42 seats, Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) of Ramvilas Paswan in five and Hindustanti Awam Morcha and Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) four each.
With India-African summit keeping Prime Minister Narendra Modi away from a major part of electioneering for the fourth phase, the onus fell on BJP President Amit Shah and Finance minister Arun Jaitley.
PM Modi addressed two rallies at Gopalganj and Muzaffarpur before the campaign ended this evening at 5 PM.
Continuing with his earlier attack on Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Mr Prasad, PM Modi again alluded to "sinister plan" to carve out five per cent quota from OBC, SC and ST to give to a particular community.
Congress leader, Rahul Gandhi and other grand alliance leaders poked fun at PM Modi and linked him with the character of "virus" in the mega blockbuster.
Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Sushma Swaraj, Uma Bharti and cinestar and BJP lawmaker, Hema Malini campaigned for NDA candidates.
Actor Ajay Devgn also extended his helping hand to BJP candidates in some constituencies.