A large number of Biharis reside in Upper Assam especially in commercially sound Dibrugarh-Tinsukia belt.
Most are hardworking Yadavs. "We are here for hard work.... We do not shy of sweating it out and hence local businessmen Assamese and non-Assamese prefer us. But as far as politics is concerned, we take interest about Bihar politics," says one of them.
"We are determined to make Lalu Prasad ji's son Tejashw Yadav the next Chief Minister of Bihar and hence we will visit home during elections," he adds.
Some of them are seasonal labourers. They are hired during demand time and four to six months - they go back home and there work on agriculture fields.
One voter from Champaran region of Bihar says:
"A few Biharis can actually deny that that life had gotten better under Nitish Kumar... Before 2005 there was 15 years of Lalu Prasad's rule and everyone spoke about Jungle raj".
But once 2005 November Bihar assembly polls were over, the politcs around 'jungle raj allegation' against Lalu Prasad too did not stick much.
Of course PM Narendra Modi’s master ability in understanding of crowd psychology to advantage worked at times and sometimes did not yield results.
In 2015 -- after a decade of Nitish rule- there was no anti incumbency.
The voters wanted Nitish Kumar’s continuation and many were fed up with Prime Minister Modi’s rhetoric too.
These put the BJP on the back foot in 2015 and at later stage when PM Modi charged Nitish Kumar about ‘DNA’ – the local Bihari voters decided to back their “own man” – Nitish babu, the local Bihari citizens say.
But in 2020, the Bihar polls were held on the backdrop of Covid crisis and the tragic death of popular actor Sushant Singh Rajput.
Hence they say, the battle of 2025 will be more interesting.
Moreover, the BJP’s ticket distribution and allocation of seats to three allies HAM, LJP and RLSP will also be an interesting feature to look at.
In 2005, NOTA vote share stood at 9,47,185 votes making it 2.5 per cent of votes polled and Manjhi's party - ironically which even spoke of making their leader the Chief Minister - could poll only 2.3 per cent and thus 8,46,856 votes.
Sushil Kumar Modi will be missed in 2025 polls
The long friendship between JD(U) stalwart Nitish Kumar and Sushil Kumar Modi was often regarded as legendary and compared to Atal Bihari Vajpayee-L K Advani bond.
Former Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar and Nitish Kumar's longtime associate, Sushil Kumar Modi, is no more.
The BJP on Friday decided to field Sushil Kumar Modi as the party's candidate for Rajya Sabha polls. An announcement made by BJP general secretary Arun Singh said the saffron party's central election committee has decided to make him the party candidate for elections to the Upper House of Parliament.
Now all eyes will be on the possible expansion of the Modi cabinet in the centre and perhaps Sushil Kumar Modi will also perhaps make it.
In a surprise political decision after recently held Bihar polls, the BJP central leadership decided to nominate two other leaders as Deputies to the state Chief Minister Nitish Kumar - Tarkishore Prasad and Renu Devi.
It was then speculated that probably Sushil Kumar Modi would be shifted to Delhi.
The long friendship between JD(U) stalwart Nitish Kumar and Sushil Kumar Modi is often regarded as legendary and compared to Atal Bihari Vajpayee-L K Advani bond.
However, there has been a difference, according to observers --- that in most instances it has been Nitish Kumar who walked away with glamour and prized positions while Sushil Kumar Modi readily played second fiddle.
Of course, during the height of the debate, Sushil Kumar Modi had tweeted to say: "The BJP and the Sangh Parivar gave me so much in the political life of 40 years. I will discharge the responsibility that will be given to me. No one can take away the post of the party worker".
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