At Darbhanga, crowds without masks throng Yogi Adityanath rally during BJP’s Bihar campaign

Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath's rally at Pindaruch, a Brahmin-dominated village in northern Bihar's Darbhanga district, drew close to 6,000 people.

BJP supporters wave at Yogi Adityanath's helicopter in Darbhanga district of Bihar | Praveen Jain | ThePrint
BJP supporters wave at Yogi Adityanath's helicopter in Darbhanga district of Bihar | Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Bihar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar have been the star campaigners for the NDA alliance in the ongoing Bihar assembly elections, but Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has been a crowd-puller too.

At his rally Wednesday at Pindaruch, a Brahmin-dominated village in northern Bihar’s Darbhanga district, close to 6,000 people attended. Adityanath was rallying in support of BJP candidate Murari Mohan Jha, who is pitted against Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) heavy weight and former finance minister of Bihar Abdul Bari Siddiqui.

People welcomed Adityanath with chants of ‘Jai Shri Ram‘ as his helicopter landed in Pindaruch. Some even broke the barricades as they tried to get a closer look at the BJP leader.

Speeches made by him and Jha mostly focused on the Ram Mandir, the scrapping of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir and war against terrorism. They also spoke about the setting up of an AIIMS and an airport in Darbhanga. Adityanath later spoke about the pandemic and asked people to be vigilant against the deadly virus.

No mention was, however, made of any development work done by the Kumar-led NDA government in the state. There were also no banners or posters of NDA partners at the ground.

ThePrint’s National Photo Editor Praveen Jain brings you glimpses from the rally.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath waves at his supporters during an election rally in Darbanga | Praveen Jain | ThePrint
Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath flashes the victory sign after landing in Pindaruch | Praveen Jain | ThePrint
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath addressing public during election rally in Darbanga | Praveen Jain | ThePrint
CM Adityanath addresses the crowd in Pindaruch during the campaign rally | Praveen Jain | ThePrint
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath addressing public during election rally in northern Bihar's Darbhanga district | Praveen Jain | ThePrint
The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister spoke to a 6,000-strong crowd | Praveen Jain | ThePrint
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath at a rally in northern Bihar's Darbhanga district | Praveen Jain | ThePrint
The Chief Minister, his security personnel and other leaders wore masks throughout the rally | Praveen Jain | ThePrint
Children wear masks of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during election rally in Darbanga | Praveen Jain | ThePrint
At the rally, protective face masks were as scarce as the space to socially distance | Praveen Jain | ThePrint
Party worker of Paswan samiti waving at the crowd of Yogi Adityanath election rally in Darbanga | Praveen Jain | ThePrint
A Lok Janshakti Party supporter with ‘Paswan Samiti’ painted on his back | Praveen Jain | ThePrint
A BJP supporter seen holding a placard of Narendra Modi during the election rally in Darbanga | Praveen Jain | ThePrint
The venue was dotted with cut outs PM Modi and BJP flags | Praveen Jain | ThePrint
Party supporter during the election rally in Darbanga | Praveen Jain | ThePrint
Police personnel try to prop up a barricade while trying to control the swell of party supporters at the election rally | Praveen Jain | ThePrint
A BJP supporter wearing a mask of Narendra Modi during the election rally in Darbanga | Praveen Jain | ThePrint
A BJP supporter dressed in the party’s colours and wearing a ‘Narendra Modi mask’ | Praveen Jain | ThePrint
Crowd running towards the helicopter of Yogi Adityanath during the rally in Darbanga | Praveen Jain | ThePrint
People run towards Adityanath’s chopper after it landed at Pindaruch | Praveen Jain | ThePrint
Crowd seen towards the helicopter of Yogi Adityanath during the rally in Darbanga | Praveen Jain | ThePrint
The helicopter which ferried the Uttar Pradesh CM to Bihar Wednesday| Praveen Jain | ThePrint
Children seen holding a Bhartiya Janata Party Flag during the election rally in Darbanga | Praveen Jain | ThePrint
A young boy holds a BJP flag during the election rally in Darbhanga | Praveen Jain | ThePrint
A view of crowd at Yogi Adityanath election rally in Darbanga | Praveen Jain | ThePrint
Women and children were among those gathered to catch a glimpse of Yogi Adityanath | Praveen Jain | ThePrint
Supoters waving at the crowd of Yogi Adityanath election rally in Darbanga | Praveen Jain | ThePrint
Supporters wave at Yogi Adityanath during the rally | Praveen Jain | ThePrint
Placard of Narendra Modi at the election rally in Darbanga | Praveen Jain | ThePrint
Cut outs of PM Modi dotted the rally venue | Praveen Jain | ThePrint