Patna: As the 2025 Bihar Assembly election results draw near, the Congress party is focusing its attention on the Seemanchal region, where it performed strongly in 2020. Constituencies including Kishanganj, Bahadurganj, Forbesganj, Purnia Sadar, Kasba, Araria, Kadwa, Barari, Manihari, and Koira are at the centre of the party’s electoral strategy.
Party insiders say Congress’s enduring grassroots presence and the social composition of Seemanchal — which includes a significant Muslim, Dalit, and backward class population — remain in its favour. “Most of Seemanchal has historically been a Congress stronghold,” said Asitnath Tiwari, the party’s state spokesperson. “Ahead of this election, we have made efforts to revitalise the organisation, particularly at the block level, and our campaigns on local issues are gaining traction.”
In 2020, Congress captured nearly half of these ten seats, winning constituencies such as Kishanganj, Kasba, Araria, Kadwa, and Manihari. This election, the party has opted to field new faces in several constituencies, believing candidates with strong local ties will resonate better with voters. Notable changes include Mohammad Kamrul Hoda replacing Izharul Hussain in Kishanganj, Irfan Alam taking Kasba from Afaq Alam, Manoj Vishwas replacing Zakir Hussain in Forbesganj, and Prof. Mashkar Alam and Jitendra Yadav contesting Purnia seats in place of Tausif Alam and Indu Sinha respectively.
Political analysts note that Seemanchal’s electoral dynamics are shaped by a combination of religion and development issues. While Muslim voters constitute a decisive demographic, concerns over employment, education, infrastructure, flood management, and border district development have become central to political debate. Congress has emphasised these development issues in its campaign, alongside efforts to address social and economic backwardness.
However, the party faces significant challenges. The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), which cut into Congress’s vote share in several Seemanchal constituencies in 2020, remains a formidable competitor. Despite this, Congress remains optimistic that it can improve its performance compared with the last election.
As votes are set to be counted on November 14, all eyes are on Seemanchal — once again the political heartbeat of Congress in Bihar. Whether the party’s strategy and new candidates will translate into victories remains to be seen.
