With the auspicious festivals of Diwali and Chhath drawing Bihari migrants back to their home State, a crucial political question hangs in the air: Which party will capture their essential votes in the upcoming Assembly elections, scheduled for November 6 and 11?
Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party, a fresh face in Bihar’s political landscape, has resonated with many within this influential voter group. However, these returning migrants are playing their cards close, preferring to decide after consulting with family, friends, and fellow villagers upon reaching their homes, primarily in Bihar’s northeastern and northwestern border regions. They anticipate a fierce electoral battle, primarily between the ruling NDA and the Opposition’s mahagathbandhan (grand alliance).
Data from the Bihar Caste Survey (2022-23) indicates that approximately 5.3 million families, totaling 26.5 million individuals, reside outside Bihar as migrant workers. While the 2011 census placed this figure at 7.45 million, some estimates suggest the number could be as high as 10 million, with political parties even claiming 30 million. Significantly, three northwestern districts — Saran, Siwan, and Gopalganj — are major recipients of remittances sent by migrants, particularly those working in Gulf nations.
The Urge to Vote: Parties Appeal to Migrants
With their potential to sway outcomes in several constituencies, these returning voters are being actively courted by political parties during their brief stay. The central BJP-led NDA government has even arranged special trains to facilitate migrants’ journeys home. Vivek Thakur, a BJP leader, remarked, “During Chhath, when public gatherings pause, our candidates personally engage with devotees at the ghats (river banks where prayers are offered to the Sun deity).” Similarly, RJD spokesperson Mrityunjay Tiwari confirmed that Opposition leaders would also encourage migrants to extend their stay past Chhath to participate in the voting process.
While trains departing from Saharsa railway station in northeastern Bihar are often called the ‘Palayan (Migration) Express’ due to their regular routes to Punjab, Delhi, and other distant locations, a different scene unfolded recently. On a Saturday afternoon, Patna Junction’s Platform 4 was bustling with migrants awaiting the Raj Rani Express, heading home. Among them was 28-year-old Satyam Kumar, a construction worker returning to Saharsa after a year in Noida. With his gaze fixed on his mobile, he shared his intention to remain home for several weeks specifically to cast his vote in the initial phase of polling on November 6.
“Prashant Kishor of the Jan Suraaj Party speaks with conviction,” Satyam noted, as his friends and fellow migrants, Himanshu Prasad, Sanjiv Kumar, and Amritanshu Anupam, nodded in agreement. He elaborated, “We frequently watched his videos on our phones while working in Noida. However, our final voting decision will be made after we return home and consult with our families, friends, and local community members.” With that, he hurried off to secure a spot on the crowded platform to await his train.
A Call for Patience: Migrants Assess New Political Entrants
Dipankar Bhattacharya, from the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) and a member of the Opposition alliance, asserted that the Jan Suraaj Party appears to hold more appeal among Bihari migrants than among residents within the State itself.
For Sanjeev Bind and his companions, the law-and-order situation in their home district of Katihar is a primary concern. “While it had improved, it has unfortunately worsened in our town again. We will vote for whoever can address this effectively,” he stated, taking a sip from his water bottle. “We feel Mr. Kishor’s words resonate, but we need more time to observe his political journey before committing our vote to his party.” Sanjeev and his friends are employed at a small restaurant in Delhi’s Azadpur area.
Beyond the station entrance, a line of migrants sat patiently on steel chairs. Among them was Subham Pandey, a security guard for a multinational firm in Gurgaon, earning ₹18,000 monthly, who held his bags while awaiting a train to his hometown in Gopalganj. “My friends and I have followed Prashant Kishor’s videos on our phones and are impressed by his message and his consistent engagement with people across the State over the past few years,” Mr. Pandey shared. “However, we’ve decided not to vote for him this election. He needs more time to establish his political credibility.” His friends, meanwhile, avoided eye contact, seemingly hesitant to express their political views publicly.
The outcome of the Bihar Assembly election is scheduled to be declared on November 14.