BJP Desires Hat Trick in Bihar with Ujiarpur Lok Sabha Hot Seat

The fate of NDA and INDIA bloc in the 2024 polls hinges on the 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar. With meticulous preparations underway for each seat in the state, the Ujiarpur Lok Sabha constituency in Samastipur district is emerging as a hot seat, where BJP aims to secure a hat trick of wins.

Since its inception after delimitation in 2008, the NDA has been dominant in the Ujiarpur seat, with Nityanand Rai of BJP emerging victorious in the last two Lok Sabha elections. In the 2019 polls, Rai defeated Upendra Kushwaha of RLSP by a margin of 2.77 lakh votes, solidifying NDA’s hold on the constituency.

With the contest heating up between NDA and INDIA bloc for the Ujiarpur seat, BJP is expected to field Nityanand Rai once again, while RJD eyes a comeback with Alok Kumar Mehta. The constituency comprises six assembly constituencies, with a total of 16,12,300 voters, marked by a dominant presence of Yadav and Kushwaha communities.

As the battle for Ujiarpur intensifies, the upcoming Lok Sabha election will be determined by the interplay of caste dynamics, local issues, and the appeal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. With nominations set to begin on April 18 and polling scheduled for May 13, the constituency is gearing up for a closely fought contest.

The residents of Ujiarpur have long-standing grievances regarding basic infrastructure like railway over bridges and roads, which remain unaddressed by the state and central governments. Amidst demands for development, the electorate remains divided over national and local issues, with BJP supporters leaning towards national issues and Mahagathbandhan voters prioritizing local concerns like jobs and infrastructure.

Affected by closures of major industries and recurring floods during the monsoon, Ujiarpur faces challenges of migration and limited economic opportunities. With the specter of ‘vote katwa’ parties like AIMIM and BSP looming in the background, the residents are poised to make a decision based on a mix of national, local, and development issues during the upcoming election.