Local issues take center stage as Anga region prepares for Bihar Assembly Elections 2025

As the countdown begins for the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections, attention has turned to the Anga region, which comprises 24 assembly seats across the districts of Munger, Lakhisarai, Bhagalpur, Banka, Khagaria and Jamui. While political parties intensify their campaigns, local issues continue to shape voter sentiment.

Lakhisarai: Farmers hit by yearly floods

In Munger, which has three assembly constituencies, unemployment and migration remain pressing challenges. Despite the presence of large industries, many locals believe that improved infrastructure and quality educational institutions are essential to attract investment and drive growth.

Santosh Aggarwal, secretary of the Munger Chamber of Commerce, said: "16 districts in Bihar were allotted a Kendriya Vidyalaya (Central School). One of them was also for Munger city. However, the government has not yet been able to arrange land for it. So, children will have to go outside to study. But if children come to Munger from outside, the city will develop..."

Ashok Sitariya of the Chamber of Commerce added, "In the past five years, this government has brought an engineering college and a forestry college to Munger, and a medical college is also going to start. When students come here for these institutions, it will also boost local business. There will be more movement of people. A medical college means there will be a good hospital. And when there’s a good hospital, people will come here, which in turn will help local trade grow as well."

The mainstay of the local economy in Lakhisarai, which has two assembly constituencies, is still agriculture. However, recurring floods during the monsoon season have led to persistent waterlogging in agricultural areas, damaging crops and threatening livelihoods.

Gulshan Kumar, a farmer from Lakhisarai, said, "The whole situation is bad. What can we do? This is how it will be; we’ll starve. What else can we do?"

Murari Kumar, another farmer, added: "Every year during the rainy season, this water accumulates here," and he further added, "There's no solution for drainage."

Banka: Power cuts and poor roads worry locals

In Banka district, home to five assembly constituencies, residents complain of poor infrastructure and frequent power outages, especially during the monsoon. Despite its rich cultural heritage, the lack of basic civic amenities remains a major concern.

Ritesh Kumar, another local resident, said: "There are problems everywhere. Just take a look at the city after a spell of rain; you’ll immediately understand the real condition here. The entire city starts to feel like a living hell. There’s no proper arrangement for electricity or drainage. Even a little rain or a mild storm is enough to cause a power outage.."

Bhagalpur: Smart city, slow progress

In Bhagalpur, known as the Silk City, residents continue to grapple with challenges in education, traffic congestion, and uneven development, despite its Smart City status. The district, which comprises seven assembly constituencies, remains politically significant.

Poonam Kumari, a local resident, said:  "Whoever the city’s leader may be, we just want that children’s education in government schools should be just as good as it is in private schools."

Jaiprakash, another resident, added: "There are a lot of problems in the city right now. There’s traffic congestion in many places, the roads are in bad shape, and there hasn’t been any significant development. Development needs to happen. The city has definitely been given the title of ‘Smart City’, but the work being done doesn’t match what a Smart City should actually look like."

As election fever intensifies, political leaders in Bhagalpur are quick to take credit for the district’s development, each highlighting their party’s contributions.

District President of RJD Bhagalpur, Chandrashekhar Prasad,  said: "Whatever Bhagalpur has received in terms of development is because of the Mahagathbandhan, and even earlier, during Congress rule, Bhagalpur saw progress. It is happening even today. The path of development for Bhagalpur truly began when our respected Lalu Prasad Yadav ji became the Chief Minister."

Meanwhile, District President of BJP Bhagalpur Santosh Shah said, "Bhagalpur is consistently witnessing new dimensions and pace of development. Whether it's the field of education with the establishment of IIIT and the Agricultural University or the arrival of major educational institutions in the city, or even the construction of a super-speciality hospital.’’

Jamui: Farming still the mainstay

In Jamui district, which has four assembly constituencies, agriculture continues to be the mainstay of the economy. However, inadequate irrigation, fertiliser shortages and limited employment opportunities beyond farming continue to fuel underdevelopment and local frustration.

Bihar's 243 assembly seats will be up for election in two stages on November 6 and 11, with the count taking place on November 14. Voters in the Anga region hope that political parties address their concerns, as local issues are expected to play a decisive role in this high-stakes electoral battle.