L K Advani stays away from first phase of the Bihar assembly polls

NEW DELHI: With political aftermath of the Ayodhya verdict emerging as a major source of worry for JD(U) in Bihar, BJP veteran L K Advani, in keeping with the sentiments of the ruling alliance on that count, is staying away from campaigning for the first phase of the assembly polls, which will be held on October 21.

Mr Advani was to begin his five-day campaign on Friday in the Kosi belt, which has a sizeable Muslim population. The region comprises border districts of Kishanganj, Purnea, Katihar and Araria. His tour programme has been redrawn.

The development does not come as a surprise given the signals emanating from the JD(U) leadership about its discomfort on sharing platform with the Ram temple campaigners, particularly after the Ayodhya verdict. Mr Advani had said after the court judgement that it had paved the way for construction of a Ram temple.

JD(U) is understood to have advised its ally that in the current atmosphere any reminder of Ayodhya would only distance Muslim voters from NDA. The man who launched the Rath Yatra two decades ago, was scheduled to campaign in places such as Kishanganj, which has nearly 70% Muslims, besides Araria, Purnea and Katihar which too have a high percentage of Muslim population.

Bihar chief minister and JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar has been campaigning in flood-ravaged Kosi region, where the Muslim-Yadav combine can tilt the scales.