OWASIS VERY MUCH IN RACE,

KISHANGANJ/PURNIA/ARARIA: Voters in Baisi on Thursday hinted at voting for Asaduddin Owaisi’s All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul (AIMIM) though reports from the Kishanganj and Purnia suggested Muslims there were a divided lot. “You can’t reject Owaisi outright,” said Md Riyaz of Amnaha, after coming out of a booth in Baisi assembly seat. Another voter, Mohd Masique, nodded in agreement.

In Kishanganj district’s Kochadhaman constituency, Muslim voters were divided between the JD(U) and the AIMIM, enhancing the prospects of the BJP.

But BJP supporters were against the party nominee in Amour, where Congress party’s Jalil Mastan is expected to do well despite the presence of AIMIM.

“Mastan is a very good leader and quite accessible, unlike Saba Jafar of the BJP,” said Prabhakar Jha of Bishnupur. “People voted for Mastan here, not for his party.”

The contest in Bahadurganj, also in Kishanganj district, is expected to be a close fight between the Congress and the BJP. “Hindus and Muslims are divided here,” Pramod Kumar Thakur, a voter, said.

A photo finish is also expected at Kasba in Purnea district while the outcome in six seats of Araria district will depend on the polarisation of votes.

In other seats such as Sikti, Narpatganj, Forbesganj, Araria, Raniganj and Jokihat, there is a direct fight between the NDA and the Grand Alliance.w