Harnaut is gearing up for the first phase of the Bihar Assembly election on November 6. Photo Credit: Amarnath Tewary
Two villages in Bihar, Kalyan Bigha and Phulwaria, offer a fascinating glimpse into how political power can shape local destinies. These aren’t just any villages; they are the ancestral homes of prominent political figures. Kalyan Bigha in Nalanda district is linked to current Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, while Phulwaria in Gopalganj district is where former CM Lalu Prasad hails from. Their differing paths of development reflect the changing fortunes of their influential sons.
Kalyan Bigha, nestled within the Harnaut Assembly Constituency, boasts a modernity often associated with urban centers. Chief Minister Kumar’s family home, a two-story concrete structure, features steel handrails, a Lord Ganesha statue, and even air conditioning – amenities that underscore the village’s advancement.
The village square is meticulously maintained, featuring a serene pond shaded by rows of trees, painted cement chairs, and a grand temple. Two parks, one honoring Kumar’s late father, ‘Kaviraj Ramlakhan Singh Smriti Vaatika,’ complete with busts of his parents and wife, and another designed for children, stand as testaments to local investment. A solid, concrete road leads to his ancestral house, with a State Bank of India branch conveniently located nearby, symbolizing access to modern infrastructure and services.
Kalyan Bigha enjoys uninterrupted electricity and well-lit streets, a stark contrast to many other impoverished villages in Bihar. A towering telephone mast equipped with a vapor light further enhances its modern feel. With primary and higher secondary schools and numerous other projects, Kalyan Bigha shines as a beacon of progress amidst Bihar’s often-dusty and struggling rural landscape. “My relatives are always impressed and a little envious when they visit Kalyan Bigha,” shared Subodh Pandey, a local priest.
Pandey, who identified himself as the Kumar family priest, noted that the Chief Minister visits Kalyan Bigha at least three times a year – on November 29, January 1, and May 14 – to honor his late father Ramlakhan Babu, mother Parmeshwari Devi, and wife Manju Sinha on their death anniversaries.
He added that his own late father, Shambhu Pandey, also served as the family priest. This observation was made as he performed the ‘Akshay Navmi’ puja for a village woman beneath a gooseberry tree, just outside the Chief Minister’s residence, on a crisp October morning.
“Today, our village has all the amenities one would expect in a well-developed town,” Pandey emphasized. “But before 2005, things were truly dire. We barely dared to step out during the day when the RJD was in power.”
The usual sight of Sitaram Singh, the long-serving caretaker of Kumar’s home, was absent. “He’s still with us, but a younger man now manages the house,” Pandey explained, before quietly departing after completing the puja.
Kalyan Bigha boasts an impressive array of modern infrastructure, including a new police station, a state-of-the-art shooting range for girls, and excellent road connectivity to Patna. Photo: Amarnath Tewary
Beyond its already impressive facilities, Kalyan Bigha proudly features a top-notch road connecting it to Patna, a dedicated police station, and even a modern shooting range specifically for girls.
“A journey that once took two and a half hours can now be finished in just twenty minutes,” stated Dr. Vikas Kumar, a physician who grew up in Kalyan Bigha and recently returned to establish a clinic near the Chief Minister’s residence.
The Kurmi Other Backward Class (OBC) community, to which Mr. Kumar belongs, forms the majority in the village, and the Chief Minister’s influence is unmistakable. “While other castes reside here too, we are all united in our support for Nitish Kumar to continue as Bihar’s Chief Minister,” a group of young men gathered by the pond affirmed.
Nitish Kumar first secured victory from the Harnaut Assembly constituency in 1985 on a Lok Dal ticket. For the upcoming Assembly election, the Janata Dal (United)’s current MLA, Harinarayan Singh, is seeking re-election for an unprecedented tenth time. “If he wins for the tenth time, it will be a historic record for Bihar,” remarked 59-year-old Maheshwar Prasad at the Harnaut market.
Singh faces off against Arun Bind, the Mahagathbandhan candidate, with Kamlesh Paswan of the Jan Suraaj Party also in the fray. “The real battle here is solely between the JD(U) and the Mahagathbandhan,” commented Satish Singh, a local business owner in Nagarnausa, with a confident smile.
Voters in Harnaut will cast their ballots in the first phase of the Bihar Assembly election on November 6.
Phulwaria: A Village Waiting for Change
Roughly 20 kilometers from Gopalganj town lies Phulwaria, a village within the Hathua Assembly constituency. This is the ancestral home of former Chief Minister and RJD founder, Lalu Prasad, a significant figure in opposition politics.
While Prasad Yadav’s grand house in Phulwaria boasts an expansive forecourt, the village itself tells a different story. Its main road, once paved, is now riddled with potholes and flanked by overflowing drains. “This village has been deliberately neglected by the current government,” asserted Prahalad Yadav, a 32-year-old resident. “When Lalu Prasad and the RJD were in power, Phulwaria was a hub of development, with facilities like a primary health center and schools for children.”
Prahalad Yadav recounted how, in earlier times, Phulwaria attracted visits from political leaders and journalists, even from the capital. “We remain proud to be residents of Phulwaria in Gopalganj, a village inextricably linked with our revered leader, Lalu Prasad-ji, and his family,” he conveyed via phone.
When questioned about visits from the RJD leader’s family, Sanyog Yadav, a septuagenarian, and other villagers heading to Gopalganj for medicines confirmed their presence. “Of course, they visit whenever they can,” a villager affirmed. “One can never truly be disconnected from their roots, can they?”
The RJD has once again nominated Rajesh Kumar Singh, the incumbent MLA who secured a victory against the JD(U)’s Ramsewak Singh in the 2020 Assembly election. The constituency boasts a diverse electorate, including a significant presence of Yadav community members, forward castes, Muslims, and Extremely Backward Class (EBC) voters.
“We are confident in re-electing our sitting candidate this time,” declared Shambhu Pandey, a villager, over the phone. He added, “This election is a matter of prestige for Lalu Prasad and for Phulwaria itself.”
Like Harnaut, Hathua will also participate in the first phase of the Bihar Assembly election on November 6.