Sitamarhi, Bihar: Located in the heart of North Bihar, Sitamarhi, believed to be the birthplace of Goddess Sita, holds immense mythological and cultural importance. Spread across the Gangetic Basin, the district with eight assembly constituencies is now emerging as a crucial battleground in the upcoming Bihar state elections next month.

Daily challenges overshadow rich heritage

Despite Sitamarhi’s deep-rooted historical and spiritual legacy, a section of the local population continues to face daily challenges, including poor road infrastructure, high unemployment, poor law and order, and inadequate irrigation facilities.

Nagendra Singh, a local resident, said, "Sitamarhi is facing a major issue regarding a ring road that has been under consideration for the past 10 to 20 years. Due to this, the entire city remains in disarray, and accidents occur daily on the ring road, at least one or two every day. The road has potholes as deep as knee-level, and this remains an unresolved issue. Additionally, law and order in Sitamarhi is a serious concern. While that may be a concern in other parts of Bihar also, in Sitamarhi too, law and order is one of the most pressing issues.’’

Ritesh Raman, another resident, highlighted the failure of schemes launched decades ago.

“In the 1980s, the Laghu Sinchai Yojana (Minor Irrigation Scheme) was launched to support farmers, comprising two key components: the State Tube Well Scheme and the Minor Irrigation Scheme. However, both schemes are completely non-functional in Sitamarhi and have effectively turned into white elephants. Farmers are now forced to use motor pump sets for irrigation, often at their own expense.” he said.

Residents have also expressed frustration over the slow progress of ongoing infrastructure projects.

Hari Om Narayan, a local resident, said, “There are problems related to the Lakhandei River and the railway overbridge, which has been under construction for around 11 to 12 years now. The work is progressing very slowly. People are suffering a lot due to this delay. It's hard to say when the construction will be completed; it could take one, two, or even four more years...”

NDA supporters praise welfare schemes

While some locals express dissatisfaction, others credit the Nitish Kumar-led NDA government for implementing welfare schemes and development initiatives that have benefited the people.

Ritesh Kumar, a resident, said, “The NDA government is undertaking significant development work in the Sitamarhi area. The pension for elderly people has been increased from ₹400 to ₹1,100, which is highly commendable. Additionally, the government is providing free rations to all poor families, which has made the public very happy. Recently, the government also provided ₹10,000 to all women in Bihar, positively impacting their lives. Furthermore, roads and drainage systems have been constructed efficiently and are in good condition.”

Another local, Hari Om Sharan, echoed similar sentiments. “In Bihar, the NDA government is in power, with Nitish Kumar serving as our Chief Minister. One of the most pressing issues in the state has been unemployment, and the Chief Minister is taking commendable steps to address it. In the past, BPSC exams were held irregularly, often once in 5–6 years, and there was no fixed timeline for the announcement of results. However, in the last five years, significant improvements have been made. Exams are now conducted on time, and results are declared promptly. As a result, meritorious students are getting selected based on their performance. These are important steps toward addressing the unemployment problem. When it comes to development work in the districts, the Chief Minister is actively implementing various projects that are directly benefiting the people.”

BJP leaders confident of NDA’s return

Local BJP leaders remain confident that the ruling NDA alliance enjoys strong support across Sitamarhi due to its welfare schemes.

According to the District General Secretary of the BJP, Chunchun Singh, “Whatever the government is doing, or the schemes it has introduced, are all for the benefit of the common people. This is what any government should have done earlier, and it is happening now. The entire public is very happy with this, there is no discontent. Once again, an NDA government with a full majority is set to return.”

Congress predicts desire for change

However, the opposition Congress party believes that growing discontent among voters will translate into a call for change.

Ritesh Raman, State Representative of the Congress, said, “Speaking as the voice of the people of Sitamarhi, Bihar, I can say that people are now rising against them, and this desire for change will be clearly reflected in the results on the 14th.”

Bihar will vote in two phases next month, on November 6 and November 11, to elect representatives for the 243-member state assembly. The results will be declared on November 14.