Faith, jobs and local pride key factors in Mithilanchal

SITAMARHI: In the heart of Bihar's Mithilanchal, where air carries the scent of Maithili folk songs and the pain of annual floods - though people had a respite this monsoon - 2025 assembly polls have boiled down to faith, jobs and local pride. NDA is banking on Ramayan symbolism and development pledges to hold its ground, while opposition Mahagathbandhan has played the migration and unemployment cards to counter the "susashan" narrative of incumbent Nitish Kumar, which is central to the "double engine" plank of the alliance, along with PM Modi's charisma. The buzz started when Union minister Amit Shah performed "bhoomi pujan" at Punaura Dham in Sitamarhi, the birthplace of Sita.

NDA has promised massive redevelopment along the lines of Ayodhya, which includes a greenfield city, Sitapuram. Land acquisition is nearly done, and construction - funded through crowdfunding - will soon begin on a 68-acre complex costing Rs 890 crore. This pledge extends beyond Punaura. The project is a part of the Ramayana Circuit: Rs 52 crore for Valmiki Nagar, Rs 31 crore for Pulhar in Madhubani, Rs 24 crore for Panth Pakar in Sitamarhi, Rs 23 crore for Ahilya spot, Rs 13 crore for Ram Reka Ghat and Rs 7 crore for Sita Kund in Munger-Gaya.

People in the region see the initiative as a boost to Mithila's identity where NDA's confidence is soaring amid a diverse mix of Yadavs, EBCs (36% as per 2023 caste survey), Muslims and upper caste Maithils. The promise of restarting Riga Sugar Mill, shut for over five years, has made locals hopeful. "This will bring jobs back to our fields," says Ram Kripal, a farmer. NDA candidate Vaidyanath Prasad is locked in a tough fight with MGB's Congress pick Amit Kumar Tunna.

Congress is hammering the "local vs outsider" point, painting Prasad as an import since he hails from Sheohar. Yet, NDA's edge is evident: in 2020, it had won 30 of Mithilanchal's 46 seats; in 2024 Lok Sabha polls, it swept all seven parliamentary segments here. Mithilanchal covers 10-12 districts: Darbhanga and Madhubani (10 seats each, NDA strongholds), Muzaffarpur and Samastipur (10 each, Yadav-EBC battles), Sitamarhi (6, migration woes), Saharsa (5), Supaul (3), Madhepura (3), Sheohar (1), and bits of Vaishali-Begusarai. Over 70 lakh voters, including 10 lakh first timers, will be eligible to cast votes in the second phase of polling on Nov 11. Women, whose turnout was 59% in 2024 Lok Sabha polls, have been wooed through schemes like aid for 1.51 crore Jeevika sisters, a factor which could be the most decisive one in case NDA maintains its winning streak. NDA's "M3 Strategy" - Mithila, Music, Mahila - is on show with folk singer Maithili Thakur as the star campaigner in 20+ seats.

She draws the youth, countering migration blues. PM Modi and Shah have pushed "Modiwaad + Nitishwaad," promising IT jobs, sugar mill revivals, and a classical language tag for Maithili. MGB, led by Tejashwi Yadav's RJD, is eyeing gains of 10-15 seats, hoping EBC voters will boost its Yadav-Muslim constituency. Tejashwi conducted rallies in Samastipur-Madhubani, promising one crore jobs, double panchayat pay and pensions.

But seat-sharing woes -friendly fights on eight seats - and 'jungle raj' jibes are set to hurt MGB. Besides, AIMIM's Asaduddin Owaisi has fielded four candidates (in Jale, Bisfi, Keoti, Darbhanga town), splitting the Muslim vote. Jan Suraaj is contesting all 46 seats. It remains to be seen whom the new entrant will hurt the most, given that the fight is largely between the two alliances.