Crowd-pulling choppers, big rallies and promises — scenes from battleground Bihar

Both BJP-JD(U) and the RJD-led alliances have campaigned aggressively in the state that is going to third and last phase of the assembly polls Saturday.

A Special Protection Group personnel stands in front of the party banners of BJP and JD(U) | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Bihar: The crucial Bihar assembly elections are under way, with the third and last phase to be conducted Saturday. The results will be announced on 10 November.

The battle has been tight between Chief Minister and JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav. Backed by the BJP and the Congress, respectively, both the JD(U) and the RJD-led alliances have campaigned aggressively in the state.

If Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rallies drew people, Yadav has also been an equal crowd-puller.

ThePrint’s National Photo Editor Praveen Jain, who covered the election campaigns and polling for more than two weeks in the state, brings you some of his interesting captures.

Villagers catching a glimpse of the helicopter carrying Bihar Health Minister Mangal Pandey in Keoti assembly constituency | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

The crowd at a rally venue | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

CM Nitish Kumar’s helicopter lands in Nalanda as security personnel guard the barricades  Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

A child at a rally in Keoti constituency | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

A group of women and children looking at a helicopter | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Camera-shy girls at one of the rallies | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

CM Nitish Kumar after casting his vote at the Raj Bhawan compound in Patna | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav surrounded by mediapersons as he went out to vote | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

BJP, in its party manifesto, has promised free Covid-19 vaccine for people in Bihar | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

The old came out to vote, along with the young. Bihar saw 53.54 per cent voter turnout in the first phase of assembly polls | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

A family is taking the body of a relative for cremation, at Sharbadha Fatuha village on the polling day on 3 November | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Two girls enjoying a bicycle ride in their village in Punadih on the voting day. The Nitish Kumar government gave cycles to all girls who passed Class 9 so they can reach schools easily | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

People stand without maintaining social distancing in a Bihar village while waiting to catch a glimpse of their leader | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint