Patna: A Jesuit college organized an interactive session to seek children’s views on social issues as the eastern Indian state of Bihar prepares to elect its 243-member legislative assembly.

Although children formed one third of India’s population, political parties neglect them because they are not a vote bank, noted officials of St Xavier’s College situated at Digha, a western suburb of the Bihar state capital of Patna.

The college held the session nine days before Bihar is scheduled to begin a five-phase polling to elect its legislative assembly. The current assembly’s tenure ends on November 29, 2015.

The Jesuit college authorities regretted that serious issues affecting children such as malnutrition, anemia in adolescents, quality and child friendly education system do not reflect in the manifestos of political parties. “Importance of pitching children’s issues in the election discourse is important for the development of Bihar’s children,” they added.

The session, they added, aimed to draw key political parties’ attention. Nearly 40 students of Mass Communication department participated in the session that was facilitated by UNICEF.

“It is hoped that through this process we would be able to highlight and share the issues of children from marginalized communities with key stakeholders for inclusion in election manifestos and wider election discourse at this very opportune time when Bihar elections are round the corner,” a press note said.

The first phase of the election on October 12 will elect 49 members, while the second phase four days later will cover 32 constituencies. The third phase on October 28 will elect 50 legislators and the fourth phase on November 1 will cover 55 seats. The final phase on November 5 will elect 57 members.

The Bihar election is considered crucial for India’s political future.

The main contenders are Janata Parivar (people’s family) of secular parties led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and the National Democratic Alliance led by the pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP, Indian people’s party) that heads the federal coalition government.

Political pundits predict that BJP will further consolidate its hold on Indian polity if it wins Bihar.