PM Modi to address poll meetings in Bihar tomorow

The Prime Minister faces a bigger challenge this time to boost the tally of 31 seats bagged by NDA in the state in 2014 parliamentary elections as the alliance now has JD(U) on its side, which had given it a tough fight in Bihar in the last general elections.

Mr Modi, facing a herculean task to retain power at the Centre, will address public meetings in Jamui and Gaya.

It would be his first visit after Election Commission announced the schedule of Lok Sabha elections on March 10.

Mr Modi had visited Bihar in quick successions, a warm up exercise of sorts before blowing up of whistle for big electoral battle, on February 17 in Begusarai to participate in a government function and on March 3 in Patna to address an NDA rally at the Gandhi Maidan.

The Prime Minister has given due importance to ensure NDA's tally of 31 seats rose in Bihar and it has been evident from the fact that demands made by JD(U) led by Chief Minister Mr Kumar were accommodated.

In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, NDA had BJP, LJP and RLSP in Bihar and they together bagged 31 of the 40 Lok Sabha seats in the state. BJP had won highest number of 22 seats followed by LJP which bagged 6 seats while RLSP registered its victories on 3 seats.

In the last parliamentary elections, BJP had contested from 30 seats leaving 7 seats for LJP and 3 seats for RLSP.

Even as the NDA allies bargained hard for seat sharing last year, Prime Minister displayed magnanimity by accommodating the demand of 17 seats of Mr Kumar while Mr Ramvilas Paswan led LJP was given 6 seats and BJP accepted to contest only 17 seats, 13 less than what it had contested in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.