Bihar bypoll to test strength of regrouped Lalu, Nitish

Bypolls to 10 Assembly seats in Bihar tomorrow will establish whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi's magic is still working in the state or that of Lalu Prasad and Nitish Kumar, who have claimed a winning formula in allying.

The bypoll, the first major political event after the general elections will show which way the wind is blowing in the state before next year's assembly polls. It will also test whether the experiment of reunion of 'mandal forces' represented by Lalu Prasad's RJD and Nitish Kumar's JD(U) in company of Congress has been a success in stopping the BJP juggernaut.

Considering the significance of the by-elections for their political survival, Lalu Prasad and Nitish Kumar have made several trips to the 10 constituencies. Though no big leaders from outside the state campaigned for NDA candidates, state BJP leaders with LJP chief Ramvilas Paswan and ally Rashtriya Loktantrik Samata Party of Upendra Kushwaha criss-crossed the state to drum up support.

The bypolls will be held in Hajipur, Chapra, Mohiuddinagar, Parbatta, Bhagalpur, Rajnagar(SC), Jale, Mohania(SC), Narkatiaganj and Banka. Altogether 94 candidates including 5 women are in the fray, an Election Commission statement said.