NDA targets specific Assembly seatsBihar gears up for its Assembly elections, the ruling NDA is expected to adopt a carefully designed electoral strategy aimed at securing the maximum number of seats, particularly in constituencies dominated by Muslims, Dalits, and OBCs. According to sources, the JD(U) is likely to field its candidates in most Muslim-majority constituencies, as well as in Kurmi and Mahadalit-dominated constituencies. Despite its recent support for the Waqf Bill, the JD(U) is not seen as having a trust deficit with the Muslim community. That may be the deciding factor in majority of the Muslim-dominated seats going to the JD(U). Meanwhile, other NDA allies, such as the LJP(Ram Vilas) and Hindustani Awam Morcha, as well as smaller partners, are expected to contest constituencies with large populations of Dalits and Extremely Backward Classes. The BJP is likely to focus on constituencies where Upper Castes and OBCs are predominant. In Bihar, OBC-dominated constituencies make up the largest segment, followed by seats where Scheduled Castes, Muslims, and Upper Castes are significant voting blocs. There is an ongoing discussion within NDA circles that the JD(U) and BJP, the two principal parties in the alliance, may contest on equal number of seats. Final seat-sharing arrangements would be worked out closer to the polls. Allocations for smaller allies will likely depend on past electoral performance.Brother’s estranged wife vs brother Speculation is rife in Bihar that the ruling NDA, led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, may field Aishwarya Rai, the estranged wife of Tej Pratap Yadav, the elder son of RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, against younger son and former Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav. The grapevine has it that Aishwarya Rai could be a potential JD(U) or BJP candidate from the Raghopur assembly seat in Vaishali district. Tejashwi Yadav holds the seat, which Yadav voters traditionally dominate. An MBA from Amity University, Noida, Aishwarya Rai is the daughter of former Bihar minister Chandrika Rai and the granddaughter of late Daroga Prasad Rai, a former Chief Minister. She completed her schooling at Patna’s Notre Dame and pursued her higher education at Delhi University. Fluent in English, Rai is considered to have inherited a strong political legacy from her family. In 2018, Aishwarya married Tej Pratap Yadav. However, the marriage deteriorated within months, and a divorce case, still sub judice, was filed five months later.
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