Patna: Union minister and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) president Chirag Paswan will address a rally in Purnia on September 21, as the Seemanchal region sharpens into a key battleground for the 2025 Bihar assembly elections.
LJP (Ram Vilas) in-charge for Bihar and Jamui MP Arun Bharti confirmed that the Nav Sankalp Mahasabha will take place at Rangbhoomi ground in Purnia, signalling the party’s attempt to consolidate support in the Kosi and Seemanchal belts. Chirag has already staged similar rallies in Ara, Nalanda, Gaya, Saran, Munger and Muzaffarpur.
The timing of Chirag’s rally is significant. On September 15, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the new Purnia airport and announced projects worth Rs 40,000 crore, in the presence of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and NDA leaders. A week later, on September 26, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi is expected to hold her own public meeting in Purnia, following Rahul Gandhi’s Voter Adhikar Yatra last month through Seemanchal with RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav.
The Seemanchal region – which includes Purnia, Kishanganj, Araria and Katihar – has long been a politically sensitive area. Its large Muslim population, proximity to Nepal and Bangladesh borders, and recurring challenges of floods, erosion and migration have shaped the electoral landscape. While the BJP has raised the issue of infiltration to expand its presence, the Grand Alliance is working to shore up its traditional support base. Meanwhile, Asaduddin Owaisi’s AIMIM is seeking to strengthen its foothold in the region.
