The formal announcement of the Bihar Assembly elections has not yet been made, but political activity has intensified. PM Modi has begun crafting a political atmosphere through successive visits to Bihar. On Friday, the Prime Minister will bestow developmental gifts to Bihar and West Bengal. PM Modi will first arrive in Bihar's Motihari, where he will spearhead Mission-Champaran by offering projects valued at over 7217 crore rupees.
PM Modi expressed on his social media platform that today marks a historic day in Bihar’s developmental journey. At about 11:30 AM on Friday, PM Modi will inaugurate and lay the foundation stones for various state projects related to connectivity, IT, and startups in Motihari. Additionally, he will flag off four Amrit Bharat trains, with two traversing through the DDU division. During this period, PM Modi will also address a large public gathering to energize BJP’s election campaign.
PM Modi's 'Mission Champaran'
Champaran Belt, known as BJP's stronghold in Bihar, sees relentless efforts to maintain a firm grip. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will deliver developmental gifts from Motihari in East Champaran and address a grand assembly. This significant visit is poised to influence both East and West Champaran districts, as they are contiguous.
The BJP cleared the opposition in the Champaran area during the last assembly election, establishing unrivaled supremacy and aims to replicate the 2020 electoral outcome in 2025. Consequently, PM Modi himself is stepping forward to conquer Mission Champaran.
East Champaran district hosts 12 seats, out of which NDA clinched Motihari, Dhaka, Chiraiya, Madhuban, Pipra, Govindaraj, Harsiddhi, Raxaul, and Kesaria seats. RJD successfully won Sugauli, Narkatiya, and Kalyanpur seats. In West Champaran, with a total of 9 seats, areas like Valmikinagar, Bettiah, Lauria, Ramnagar, Narkatiaganj, Bagha, Navtan, Chanpatia, and Sikta are included.
The Political Equation of Champaran Belt
Together, Champaran's two districts encompass 21 assembly seats, with East Champaran accounting for 12 and West Champaran for 9. In the 2020 elections, NDA secured 17 of the 21 seats in Champaran, and the Grand Alliance won four. Among NDA, BJP secured 15 and JDU 2 seats, while the Grand Alliance claimed four, with three won by RJD and one by CPI-ML.
In East Champaran, NDA grasped 9 of the 12 assembly seats, while the Grand Alliance held three. Out of NDA’s nine, eight belonged to BJP and one to JDU. The RJD representatives occupied all three Grand Alliance seats. In West Champaran, NDA won 8 of the 9 seats. BJP bagged seven, while JDU took one, whereas the Grand Alliance secured one seat for CPI-ML.
Strategizing from Motihari
As PM Modi visits Motihari, immense attention is paid to the four lost seats. The NDA is also keen on reinforcing its grip on BJP-controlled seats. This is the fifth election-year visit of PM Modi to Bihar. Motihari's strategic importance arises from its connection to both East and West Champaran, and adjacent Nepal, particularly Raxaul and neighboring areas. The Prime Minister's visit is likely to impact these regions significantly.
BJP stalwart Radha Mohan Singh is the sitting MP from this region, repeatedly winning elections from East Champaran, while Sanjay Jaiswal triumphs in Lok Sabha elections from West Champaran. This area is perceived as BJP's fortress. BJP has benefited from Nitish Kumar's NDA alliance, unlike the setback faced in 2015 following JDU's departure.
The Pros and Cons of Being with Nitish
In the 2020 elections, BJP gained from Nitish Kumar’s NDA affiliation, while in 2015, the party faced repercussions in the Champaran Belt due to his detachment. In the 2015 elections, with Nitish absent from NDA, 5 of East Champaran's assembly seats fell to NDA and 7 to the Grand Alliance. Similarly, of West Champaran's 9 seats, NDA captured 5 while the Grand Alliance took four. BJP's voter share also dwindled.
In 2015, with Nitish out of NDA, BJP received 23.5% of the vote, while the Grand Alliance parties – JDU, RJD, and Congress – received 18.2%, 20.5%, and 3.6%, respectively. In stark contrast, in 2020, with Nitish returning to NDA, BJP's seat and vote share increased, procuring 25.8% of the vote, with JDU at 20.1%. RJD topped 23.1%, Congress accumulated 9.2%, and CPI-ML secured 7.5%.
Modi's Bihar Visits and Gift of Development
This visit marks PM Modi's second to Bihar in a month and the fifth this year. Prior events include a grand rally in Siwan on June 20 and a roadshow in Patna on May 29, followed by a large gathering in Bikramganj on May 30. Earlier in April, Modi organized a rally in Madhubani, indicating his commitment to monthly programs in Bihar, presenting gifts worth thousands of crores each time.
So far, PM Modi has endowed plans valued at 80,000 crore rupees. The Prime Minister's focus is on Bihar, and the central government persists in announcing projects for the state's development. PM will virtually flag off the New Delhi-Amrit Bharat Express from Patna to Lucknow, with 40000 beneficiaries set to receive 162 crore rupees under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramen). Also, 12000 beneficiaries will undergo house entry, with PM handing keys to five recipients. During his Motihari visit, PM Modi will present Bihar with projects worth 7217 crores, including railways, roads, and housing.
