Voters of Bihar’s Khagaria assembly constituency, struggling without basic amenities and job opportunities, are yearning for a change. They keep a close eye on candidates who are all out making big promises.
Congress candidate Chandan Kumar alias Chandan Yadav is pitted against Janata Dal (United) leader Bablu Kumar Mandal in the seat, with voters seeking an action plan from the candidates to resolve various lingering issues.
With a clean slate, Mr. Yadav is one of the candidates in the election against whom there are no criminal cases. He promised to change the face of Khagaria.
Mr. Yadav, 53, who holds a Ph.D. degree from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), unsuccessfully contested the 2020 assembly elections from Beldaur seat in Khagaria district when he was defeated by JD(U) candidate Pannal Lal Singh Patel. However, the party has given him another opportunity from Khagaria where he will replace Congress MLA Chatrapati Yadav.
The MLA expressed her anger at being denied a ticket and alleged that Bihar Congress in-charge Krishna Allavaru along with people who were part of the “ticket-selling syndicate” were behind it.
The first phase of the election is coming to an end and the candidates are campaigning hard. While campaigning in Mansi panchayat, Mr. Yadav said, “Khagaria is known for four products — fish, vegetables, maize and milk. There is a lot of scope for fishing. There was a time when vegetables were sent from here to different areas. This place is also called ‘corn bowl’ and another product is milk.”
He further said, “These four food items can play an important role in boosting farmers’ income. Unfortunately, BJP and JD(U) have not realized their strength. Ignorance of these four important pillars has now put us in a difficult situation. I have a plan and a model to bring change, I just need an opportunity.”
Geographically unique, Khagaria is surrounded by seven rivers – Ganga, Budhi Gandak, Koshi, Kareh, Kali Koshi, Kamla and Bagmati – and faces frequent flooding during the monsoon season. Villagers lamented that no leaders in Khagaria have addressed the root problem of floods that have severely affected their region.
Khagaria is also one of the places where migration is high. Many from Khagaria do jobs that require manual labor in other states, such as climbing electricity poles, carrying loads, pulling rickshaws, etc., people say. Khagaria lacks any major industry.
“Whenever elections are held, leaders visit our villages with a lot of promises. We are facing a lot of difficulties and migration is one of the problems as most of the youth of this village have gone to other states. Nobody likes to earn money outside their home and leave their family behind. Khagaria is socially and economically backward,” said Nilesh Kumar, a resident of Bakhtiyar village.
Villagers also complained that there is no open area in Khagaria panchayat where youths can train to run away for jobs in the police and army. They said the youngsters practice running on the roads, which leads to injuries.
People in Khagaria town also expressed their disappointment over the lack of sewage system which leads to waterlogging for days and months.
“We always wear half pants for training and other places because you never know where you might face knee-deep soaking. So we take off our entire pant and then walk into the stagnant dirty water to reach our destination,” said Amrintanshu Ranjan, a resident of Gaushala Road.
Due to lack of good hospitals and surgeons people from Khagaria have to visit Begusarai and Bhagalpur.
Mr Mandal, 47, also has no criminal record against him. He too is leaving no stone unturned to attract voters.
Hailing from the Other Backward Class (OBC) community, Mr. Mandal is the Khagaria District President of the JD(U) and has been associated with it for many years.
“I want to develop Khagaria to make this Assembly constituency the best in Khagaria district. I will solve the problem of farmers, be it in milk production or fishing. I understand the pain of farmers because I am attached to my roots. I have seen how poor farmers have to sell their land for their daughters’ marriage,” said Mr. Mandal while going door to door in Bhadtachaya campaign.
Soon after he becomes an MLA, he will urge Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to take care of the problems faced by farmers in Khagaria, he said.
The constituency has voters from all castes and groups, including Vaishya, Yadav, Dalit, Muslim, Brahman, Bhumihar, Koeri, Kurmi and Mallah. Congress has won this seat maximum five times, JD(U) three times and BJP twice.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi campaigned in support of Mr. Yadav in Khargaria on Sunday. Earlier, Union Home Minister Amit Shah campaigned in Khagaria in support of NDA candidates.
Published – 02 Nov 2025 23:36 IST
