There is a triangular contest in Bettiah, Chanpatia and Nautan assembly seats. In Supaul and Sugauli constituencies, the Grand Alliance has extended its support to Tej Pratap Yadav’s Janshakti Janata Dal (JJD) candidates.
Motihari: In its strongholds of West and East Champaran, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) faces a daunting challenge this time as it seeks to replicate the landslide victory achieved in the previous election. For the ruling alliance, factors such as anti-incumbency against long-standing candidates, the emergence of rebel candidates, and Jan Suraaj Party’s encroachment on its voter base, along with the Grand Alliance’s new social engineering, and an increasing public demand for change, are creating hurdles.
In the last assembly election, the NDA secured 17 out of the total 21 seats in both the districts while the Grand Alliance managed to win only four seats – Sikta, one of the nine seats in West Champaran, and three out of the 12 seats in East Champaran: Sugauli, Narkatia and Kalyanpur. Birendra Prasad Gupta of the Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Liberation (CPI(ML)(L)) won in Sikta, while the Rashtriya Janata Dal’s (RJD’s) Shashi Bhushan Singh emerged victorious in Sugauli, Shamim Ahmad in Narkatia, and Manoj Kumar Yadav in Kalyanpur.
This time, out of the 12 seats in East Champaran, the BJP is contesting on eight, while both the Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)) and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) (LJP (RV)) are contesting on two seats each. In West Champaran, the BJP is contesting seven seats and the JD(U) is contesting two.
As a part of the Grand Alliance, the Congress party is contesting six seats, the RJD two, and the CPI (ML) one seat in West Champaran. In East Champaran, the Congress is contesting two seats, the RJD seven, the CPI (M) one, and the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) one. Following the rejection of the VIP candidate’s nomination in the Supaul seat, the Grand Alliance has extended its support to Tej Pratap Yadav’s Janshakti Janata Dal (JJD) candidate.
In both the districts, the BJP and the JD(U) candidates have secured victory in a majority of the seats two to three times consecutively, with some MLAs emerging victorious even four times. JD(U) candidate Dhirendra Pratap Singh, also known as Rinku Singh, has won twice from Valmikinagar in West Champaran while BJP candidate Renu Devi has won four times from Bettiah. Additionally, Vinay Bihari has won three times from Lauriya, and Narayan Prasad has won three times from Nautan. Ram Singh from Bagaha, Umakant Singh from Chanpatia, and Pramod Kumar Sinha from Raxaul were victorious in the last election. This time, all of them have been renominated by the NDA.
The NDA has changed its candidates in the Narkatiaganj seat and Ramnagar reserved constituency. Nandkishore Ram has replaced Bhagirathi Devi, the BJP’s five-time winner from Ramnagar. In Narkatiaganj, the BJP has fielded Sanjay Kumar Pandey instead of incumbent Rashmi Verma. Pramod Kumar from Motihari in East Champaran and Krishna Nandan Paswan from Harsiddhi have both been consistently winning since 2005.
What are the voters saying?
Although the NDA candidates have been successful in retaining their seats in the past, this time there’s some dissatisfaction among the constituents. For instance, Pawan Gupta from Turkauliya, who has appeared for the BPSC mains examination said that he would vote for the “BJP as a party, even though he is dissatisfied with the local candidate”. Pawan said, “In my view, Krishnanandan Paswan does not deserve to win, but I will have to support him to ensure Nitish Kumar’s government is formed.”
He underlined that Champaran is a stronghold of both the BJP and the JD(U), with both the parties receiving a majority share of the votes. “Regardless of whether Nitish Kumar aligns with the BJP or Lalu Prasad Yadav, he has accomplished notable work,” he said.
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Pawan voiced his concerns regarding the BJP candidate Shivnandan Paswan, noting that he does not visit his constituency. While his son does interact with residents, Pawan believes an MLA should meet constituents at least once a year. Turkauliya is part of the Harsidhi (reserved) assembly constituency in East Champaran, where RJD’s Rajendra Ram is contesting against BJP candidate Krishnanandan Paswan.
There’s support for the sitting MLA Rajendra Ram as well.
At Gandhi Ghat in Turkauliya, Nathuni Mian was washing clothes while a woman from Mathiya village who wished to remain anonymous was heading to a hospital. Both of them suggested that RJD will win the Harsidhi assembly seat.
Similarly, Ratnesh Yadav from Mehbat Chhapra village visiting the veterinarian for his buffalo’s treatment remarked, “It is time for a change [in the government]. Tejashwi [Yadav] is set to become the chief minister.”
At a tea stall in Bagaha’s Englishia Chowk, a person mentioned that he was yet to see the BJP MLA. Two others nodded in agreement. They were engaged in a conversation when the BJP candidate’s son arrived, asking for votes. After his departure, one of the persons commented, “Even if not the candidate, we did get to see his son.” He identified himself as a BJP supporter but expressed a desire to vote for change this time, stating, “The same government has been in power for too long.”
At the renowned stupa in Lauriya Nandangarh, Kundan Yadav and Praveen voiced their frustration towards the incumbent MLA Vinay Bihari. Praveen said, “Look, this world-famous site is shrouded in darkness. There are no amenities here. Pradeep Singh made efforts during his tenure as an MLA. A boundary wall was constructed. Vinay Bihari has been the MLA for 15 years, yet he has accomplished nothing.”
Another young man concurred, asserting that development is necessary but the JD(U) MLA shows no concern for it. “The MLA is preoccupied with writing and singing songs. This time, he stands no chance. The people of our village will vote for Ran Kaushal Pratap Singh.” In the Lauriya constituency, VIP’s Ran Kaushal Pratap Singh is contesting from the Grand Alliance.
In Bettiah, there is discontent within the BJP regarding the renomination of Renu Devi. Many BJP supporters who are dissatisfied with the party’s candidate are supporting Rohit Sikariya – the husband of Bettiah mayor Garima Devi Sikariya – who is running as an independent.
Two women voters from a Bettiah neighbourhood remarked that the contest here is between the hand (Congress) and the flower (BJP). A young man from the same area expressed admiration for independent candidate Rohit Sikariya.
Like Bettiah, there is a triangular contest in Chanpatia and Nautan assembly seats as well since many voters are rallying behind the Jan Suraaj Party candidates.
The Grand Alliance stratergy
This time, the Grand Alliance has focused on the social dynamics in West Champaran and East Champaran, choosing candidates from castes traditionally aligned with the BJP-JD(U) supporters.
In West Champaran’s Valmiki Nagar assembly seat, Congress has nominated a candidate from the Koeri community, while in Bagaha, it has selected a Rajput candidate. In Lauriya, the VIP candidate is from the Kurmi community. In Chanpatia, the Congress candidate hails from a backward caste.
In East Champaran’s Govindganj, the Congress party has made the electoral competition more interesting by fielding a candidate from the Bhumihar community. Shashi Bhushan Rai, also known as Gappu Rai, is the Congress candidate in Govindganj, while the LJP has fielded Raju Tiwari. An auto driver, near the Lauriya Ashoka Pillar, remarked that Gappu Rai’s position is favourable in this constituency.
Suresh Paswan, a resident in Paharpur, stated that the BJP and the JD(U) have deployed Bhumihar leaders to deter the Bhumihar community from aligning with the Grand Alliance.
On Saturday, chief minister Nitish Kumar conducted a rally in Paharpur to support the LJP candidate Raju Tiwari.
In Motihari, the RJD has put forth Deva Gupta as their candidate. Gupta belongs to the Vaishya community. The voters is this constituency largely stand divided.
At a tea stall close to the Motihari railway station, a person said that in his view Nitish Kumar was peerless and near-perfect and is bound to become chief minister once more. However, two men present there pointed to the RJD candidate’s campaign vehicle, and said that they exert influence. Two other individuals at a bookshop stated that a “change is needed in Bihar”.
Considering the sizeable number of minority voters in both the districts, the Congress has nominated Wasi Ahmad in Bettiah, while the RJD has nominated Shamim Ahmad in Narkatiaganj. Shamim Ahmed has previously won twice from Narkatiaganj.
Noticeably, the Grand Alliance has strategised to secure victories in both West and East Champaran, areas considered strongholds of the BJP, by leveraging social dynamics this time. The candidates from the Grand Alliance are also attempting to leverage the influence of Jan Suraaj candidates in certain constituencies across both the districts in addition to the prevailing anti-incumbency sentiment directed at the current MLAs.
In the Bettiah assembly constituency, Umesh Patel, who sells cauliflower on the roadside in Jagdishpur said that change is needed.
At a paan shop in Siswa, Narkatiaganj, a group of young people said that they were assessing which way the political winds are blowing. They claimed that they would support the party that has an edge. When asked how they would know which direction the wind is blowing, one young man responded, “It becomes obvious who is stronger.”
At a tea stall in Sidhwa Check in the Valmiki Nagar assembly constituency, a person sipping tea remarked that the JD(U) has a strong presence in this area. While the BJP is expected to win in Bagaha, a hawker selling Patua carpets noted that the Congress is currently leading in Valmiki Nagar.
The disqualification of Jan Suraaj Party candidate Drig Narayan Prasad, a Tharu candidate from Valmiki Nagar, has provided a sense of relief to the JD(U) nominee. Had Prasad proceeded with his candidacy, two-time winner Dhirendra Pratap Singh would have encountered considerable challenges.
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Near the Bagaha subdivision office, a young man remarked that the BJP’s position has considerably improved in Bagaha assembly constituency following Uttar Pradesh chief minister Adityanath’s rally.
A tea vendor, on the Masan River Bridge, said that the lanterns are glowing brightly in Ramnagar – referring to the strong position of the RJD. “People are distressed by inflation and thus seek change,” he said.
Sugauli assembly constituency is noticing an interesting electoral contest, akin to that of Narkatiaganj. The nomination of the incumbent MLA Shashi Bhushan Singh was cancelled, leaving the Grand Alliance without a candidate. Initially, the Grand Alliance endorsed Shyam Kishore Chaudhary, a candidate from the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), and subsequently a member of Tej Pratap Yadav’s party, the JJD. Tej Pratap Yadav has addressed a letter to the chief electoral officer and the Election Commission, requesting the revocation of Shyam Kishore Chaudhary’s candidacy for campaigning as a candidate supported by the Grand Alliance.
In both the districts, prominent leaders from both the alliances, including Bhojpuri actors Khesari Yadav, Pawan Singh, and Akshara Singh, as well as MPs Ravi Kishan, Manoj Tiwari, Dinesh Lal Yadav, and Nirahua, held numerous rallies and road shows. It remains to be seen whether the NDA can duplicate its past success and to what extent the Grand Alliance challenges the ruling alliance in its stronghold.
Translated from Hindi by Naushin Rahman. To read the original article on The Wire in Hindi, click here.
This article went live on November tenth, two thousand twenty five, at thirteen minutes past nine at night.
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