After a rather shaky start, the BJP seems to have got its feet back in the game for Bihar. At the conclusion of three phases of polling, the party leadership is confident on over 60 seats; it is expecting the number to easily cross 90 seats after the fourth phase of the elections. To consolidate the fourth phase - considered as a stronghold of the NDA - the PM is all set to address a rally in Muzaffarpur. Read| If BJP loses in Bihar, crackers will go off in Pak: Amit Shah



Bihar CM Nitish Kumar during an election rally in Kotwa on Thursday. Bihar CM Nitish Kumar during an election rally in Kotwa on Thursday.

While the NDA is buoyed by some unexpected expression of popular ire against some senior leaders of the Grand Alliance, these events have also set in motion the perception that the initial edge that Nitish Kumar-Lalu Prasad formation enjoyed might now be on the wane.

Also read: Winning Bihar will be our entry point to East: Amit Shah



In the high-profile Raghopur Assembly seat, Lalu's son and candidate Tejashwi Yadav faced an angry crowd and had to flee under police cover. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was shown black flags in Bakhtiyarpur Assembly segment. Asthava's sitting MLA from JD(U) Dr Jitendra Kumar was attacked by irate voters on Wednesday in Nalanda district. Fatuha MLA from JD(U) Ram Ashray Yadav too faced angry mobs.

But, the NDA as well as the Grand Alliance leadership is also aware that the final outcome would rest a lot on the fifth and last phase when Muslim-majority Seemanchal would take the electoral plunge. This perception is what leads to possibilities of attempts at communal polarisation from both sides. Read: NDA ahead in Bihar, will pick CM after polls, says Amit Shah

A point in this regard is proved by the fact that for the past couple of days, a certain advertisement being floated by the BJP in several newspapers attacks Islamist terrorism and accuses the state government of harbouring such elements, making Bihar a 'haven of safe refuge' for them.

HAM(S) chief Jitan Ram Manjhi at a rally in Motihari on Thursday. HAM(S) chief Jitan Ram Manjhi at a rally in Motihari on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Mail Today found out during its journey to some villages in the Kurhani Assembly constituency in Muzaffarpur district, which goes to polls in the fourth phase, that Muslim polarisation too seems happening though the strategy is far less vocal and much more subterranean. Residents of these villages, for instance of one Chainpur Bangra, have set a communitarian punishment of Rs 5,000 for all those Muslims who do not vote this time, even those working outside the state.

"The idea is not to spook the other community as it would lead to their conslidation in response. We are trying to reach out to our people on social media etc, things that are not so open By Siddhartha Rai in Darbhanga/Kanti As poll fight nears end, parties eye polarisation to grab the final pie Bihar CM Nitish Kumar during an election rally in Kotwa on Thursday. to public view," said a resident of the village, not wanting to be named. The shift in minority strategy comes against the earlier practice of issuing 'fatwas' or decrees obligating Muslims to vote against the BJP.

"The general and most pressing concern for the people of Bihar is the fear that Lalu's Jungle Raj will be back. The EBC voters are especially apprehensive as they will end up on the receiving end if Lalu Raj returns. In the third phase itself where 20% voters were EBC, we are getting 60-65% of it considered conservatively. The fourth phase is all the more favourable for us as it is our stronghold such as Champaran, Muzaffarpur etc. We are winning easily," said Bihar BJP spokesperson Devesh Kumar

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley addresses the media in Patna. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley addresses the media in Patna.

The party maintains, as do a large quarter of people, that the PM's massive rally in Betia that was attended by lakhs of people turned the tide. The party, however, is not ready to state anything on its Seemanchal strategy, but is banking on the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement on quota for Muslims. "The PM made it clear that the Mahagathbandhan plans to eat into the quota for backwards, Dalits, Mahadalits to accomodate Muslim quota which is like scamming the Muslims," said Kumar.