Lok Sabha poll dates in: Half the seats of UP, but 7 phases in both, Bihar Opposition asks why

As Bihar heads for a seven-phase election for the Lok Sabha for the second time running, the Opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal has accused the BJP of misusing government institutions to its benefit.

Bihar has the lowest number of Lok Sabha seats among the three states where elections have been stretched across the seven phases — with the other two beingUttar Pradesh (80 seats) and West Bengal (48).

Underlining that Bihar has half the number of Lok Sabha constituencies compared to UP, RJD national spokesperson Subodh Kumar Mehta told The Indian Express, “We have witnessed an ominous trend under the NDA government, of misuse of government institutions, bureaucracy and the media. Polling in seven phases in Bihar across a month-and-a-half in the gruelling summer does not make sense. It is understandable for UP.”

According to him, the stretched elections reflected the nervousness of the NDA, which includes the BJP, JD(U), the two Lok Janshakti Party factions and other smaller parties. “First, they had to eat their words on not accepting Nitish Kumar (back into the NDA). Now, with such a schedule, they can plan more rallies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and use the government apparatus to their advantage. We are not against the long duration, but it can demotivate voters,” the RJD spokesperson said, adding that the NDA appears to be apprehensive after the “sound narrative” set by RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav of delivering jobs.

Last time, the NDA that comprised more or less the same constituents had swept the elections in Bihar, winning 39 of the 40 seats.

Countering the RJD’s claims, BJP OBC Morcha national vice-president Nikhil Anand said the conditions laid down by the EC are same for all political parties. “The RJD crying foul