Preparations for the Bihar Election 2025 are intensifying in West Champaran. RJD has 57 and Congress has 95 aspirants in the fray. Caste equations are decisive in seats like Nautan and Lauria. The activism of candidates has heightened the electoral fervor.
Bihar Election 2025: Preparations for the Bihar Assembly Elections 2025 are in full swing in West Champaran. Parties have started preparing their list of aspirants for the district's nine assembly seats. This time, the RJD will contest elections across the entire district. Meanwhile, the Congress is also preparing to showcase its strength. Political activity has increased at the local level.
RJD Begins Claiming All Nine Seats
In West Champaran, the RJD had contested from only one seat last time. However, this time the party has changed its strategy and decided to contest all nine seats. So far, 57 candidates have submitted their resumes to the party high command.
Nautan has the highest number of 11 aspirants. Nine candidates have staked their claim from Lauria. Seven candidates each are standing from Valmikinagar and Narkatiaganj. Five each from Chanpatia, Bagaha, and Bettiah, and four each from Ramnagar and Sikta have applied. The Sikta seat has seen the influence of CPI (ML), and the RJD is trying to challenge this.
According to RJD sources, the party's focus is particularly on five key seats in the district: Lauria, Narkatiaganj, Ramnagar, Valmikinagar, and Nautan. The RJD is not ready to give up these seats and will put its full might into them.
Congress Also Sees a High Number of Aspirants
Similarly, the Congress has also intensified its preparations in West Champaran. So far, 95 aspirants have expressed their interest in candidature to the party high command. The highest number of Congress aspirants, 18, are from the Nautan seat. In Narkatiaganj, 17; in Chanpatia, 14; in Bagaha, 12; and in Ramnagar, 10 candidates have applied.
In the last assembly elections, the Congress contested seven seats and secured the second position. This time, the party is aiming to increase its influence on more seats. According to District President Pramod Singh Patel, the final selection of candidates will be made through the state organization.
Position of BJP and JDU
Meanwhile, the race for candidates is also intensifying in the BJP and JDU for every seat. In the BJP, approximately two to three individuals are vying for tickets in each assembly constituency. Around three dozen candidates have applied for the nine seats in the district. The situation is similar in the JDU, with three to four aspirants for each seat.
In the 2020 assembly elections, the NDA performed exceptionally well in eight seats of West Champaran. The BJP won seven and the JDU won one seat. CPI (ML) captured one seat. This time, all parties are trying to change the situation.
Impact of Caste Equations
Caste equations have always played a decisive role in the politics of West Champaran. Seats like Nautan and Lauria are significantly influenced by Yadav, Kushwaha, and Muslim voters. The RJD is trying to formulate its strategy for these seats based on this demographic.
In Valmikinagar, the calculations of Kushwaha and Mahato communities; in Narkatiaganj, of Ansari and extremely backward classes; and in Ramnagar, of Scheduled Caste voters can play a crucial role in ticket distribution and elections. Parties are selecting candidates keeping these caste equations in mind.
Electoral Activity at the Local Level
The long list of aspirants from the RJD and Congress has intensified electoral activities at the local level. Candidates and their supporters have increased their outreach in villages. Leaders are meeting the public in their areas to garner support.
RJD workers have been given the message that the party will make a full effort to regain its lost ground in the district this time. In Congress too, aspirants have become active and are contacting local leaders and voters to increase their acceptance.
Seat Distribution and the Role of the High Command
RJD District President Saheb Hussain Ansari stated that any discussion regarding seat distribution and candidate selection would be premature at this point. This decision will be taken under the guidance of the party high command.
Congress District President Pramod Singh Patel also clarified that the selection of candidates will be made according to the directives of the state organization and the party high command. Efforts are being made to ensure that the number of aspirants and their caste equations enhance the party's chances of victory in the elections.
