Purnia, hailed as the capital of the Seemanchal region in Bihar, stands as a pivotal battleground in the political landscape, with its dynamics heavily influenced by prominent figures from the area. The recent spotlight has intensified as Pappu Yadav, a key player, announced his bid as an Independent candidate. Yadav’s allegiance to the Congress was anchored in the anticipation of securing the Purnia Lok Sabha seat in the seat-sharing arrangement. However, the seat was allocated to the RJD, leading to the nomination of Rupauli MLA Bima Bharti, a former JDU member who recently crossed over to the RJD. Meanwhile, JDU’s two-time MP Santosh Kushwaha is seeking re-election, although both JDU and RJD are apprehensive of the Pappu factor.
Purnia emerges as a constituency marked by its substantial minority population, approximately totaling 6.5 lakh. The Yadav community constitutes a significant segment, accounting for 1.5 lakh, with the MY combination bolstering their presence to 8 lakh. Additionally, there are 3.5 lakh Kushwaha voters, 2.5 lakh Vaishya voters, 1.5 lakh Gangauta (EBC) voters, and an estimated 1.5 lakh upper caste voters.
Notably, there appears to be a wave of anti-incumbency against Santosh Kushwaha. Nevertheless, Kushwaha remains optimistic, banking on the Modi factor and relying on the potential vote division between RJD and Pappu Yadav, who both appeal to overlapping constituencies.
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