As the curtain falls on the extensive parliamentary elections, attention focuses to the final round, which includes 58 seats from eight states and Union Territories, including Delhi. Himachal Pradesh and Punjab are two notable regions that will go to the polls on June 1. Punjab has 13 seats. Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently held a rally in Himachal Pradesh, preparing for the next election.
On Saturday, Prime Minister Modi will attend three straight rallies in Bihar. The locations are Pataliputra constituency near Patna, Karakat in Rohtas district, and Buxar. The election in Bihar is critical, as the BJP-led NDA confronts a tough opposition from the RJD-led Mahagathbadhan. Despite the NDA’s strong presence, issues such as RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav’s momentum with his job-creation campaign and a perceived weakening of BJP ally Nitish Kumar offer substantial hurdles.
The final phase of voting includes PM Modi’s constituency, Varanasi. Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and SP leader Dimple Yadav are planning a roadshow in favor of Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai. Varanasi, a BJP stronghold, had a brief intermission in 2004 when it elected Rajesh Kumar Mishra, who eventually joined the BJP. Priyanka’s campaign itinerary includes a stop in Gorakhpur before proceeding to Varanasi, emphasizing the strategic importance of Uttar Pradesh in the electoral equation.
Elsewhere, political heavyweights such as Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge are scheduled for engagements in Himachal Pradesh. In Punjab, Rahul Gandhi is set to address a rally in Amritsar, where the Congress faces challenges from not only the BJP and the Shiromani Akali Dal but also the Aam Aadmi Party. The dynamics of Rahul’s speech, particularly vis-a-vis the AAP, will be closely watched as the electoral battle approaches its climax.
