SAMASTIPUR: The birthplace of Bharat Ratna Karpoori Thakur, former Bihar CM and a towering socialist leader, is in focus as voters head to the polls on Nov 6 (first phase). Long considered the heartland of socialist politics, the BJP chose Samastipur in north Bihar to launch Prime Minister Narendra Modi's campaign, invoking Thakur's legacy to appeal to backward-class voters.
Stretching from Karpoori Gram, the leader's ancest ral village, to the municipal areas of Samastipur city and more than 1,200 surrounding villages, the constituency is home to a mix of Yadavs, Ko-eris. Dalits, upper-caste and Muslims among others. As the wide, black-topped road cut through settlements of straw-roofed huts, newly painted small concrete hou ses, and several unfinished raw concrete structures in Karpoori Gram, where Tha kur was born over a century ago, villagers' reactions to
development remain mixed. "A lot of development has taken place in our village. The re is a degree college, a 10+2 school, most poor households are receiving free ration, elec tricity supply has improved, and even free electricity is pro vided," said Vinod Paswan, a resident, frustrated that secu rity personnel had stopped him from seeing PM Modi du ring his recent visit. Modi not only visited Thakur's ancest ral home, but also spent time with his family Bittu Kumar, who lives a few blocks from Thakur's an cestral home, had a different perspective. "I have comple ted intermediate studies but don't have a job. I work as alo ader to support my ailing fat her and five siblings.
What is the point of development if it create employ doesn't ment?" he asked. Despite its urban charac ter, civic and developmental issues remain a concern. In the last five years, road conditions have improved villages to towns, and a new bridge is under construction. across the Budhi Gandak in Hakimabad. Electricity supply has also improved. However, the long pending promise of a sugar mill in the area remains unfulfilled.
Traffic congestion rema ins the biggest challenge in Samastipur. Travelling even a km can take up to 45 minu tes, yet little has been done to address the is sue. "The foun dation stone for anew ROB (road overbridge) at Bhola Talkies Gumtihas been laid twice, se emingly just to pacify impati ent residents. But during the second ceremony, the project plan itself fell apart. When people asked local officials for the detailed construction plan, they were told no such plan existed," said Rakesh Kumar, a resident of Baha durpur near the Samastipur railway station, one of Indi Female 1,27,568 Third gender: 8 Number of candidates 12 NOV POLL DATE 6 Caste mix Yadavs, Koeris, Dalits, Muslims, upper-caste minority & others Current Akhtarul Islam Shahin (RJD) Number of villages: 1,200 held the seat since 2010, anti-incumbency sentiment is vi sible, particularly among ur ban voters frustrated with the slow pace of develop ment.
The Samastipur as sembly constituency, known for its socialist heritage and vibrant political history, continues to reflect Bihar's larger political paradoxa blend of legacy lo yalty, and a year ning for CONSTITUENCY WATCH real change. The constituency has be en politically significant.
Thakur won the seat in 1980, defeating Congress (U)'s Chandrashekhar Verma. His son. Ram Nath Thakur later represented Samastipur from 2000 and served as a mi nister in Nitish Kumar's first govt. Since 2010, RJD's Akh tarul Islam Shahin has estab lished a stronghold, winning A lat of development has taken place in our village. There is a degree college, a 10+2 school, most poor households are receiving free ration, electricity supply has Improved and even free electricity is provided VINOD PASWAN Karpoori Gram resident M.D.R कर्पूरी ग्राम MLA क.मी. Ashwamedh The entrance to Karpoori Gram a's oldest which was opened in 1875.
Although the RJD has three consecutive terms (2010, 2015 and 2020), securing 63,793 votes (38.37%) in the last election. His nearest ri val in 2020, JD(U)'s Ashwa medh Devi, trailed closely with 65,507 votes (41.21%), making it a fiercely contes ted seat. Geographically, Samasti pur is surrounded by Kaly anpur, Sarai Ranjan, Ujiyar pur and Morwa assembly se-ats. Despite its socialist lega cx people, particularly urban voters appeared dissa tisfied with slow infrastruc ture growth, lack of civic amenities, improper upkeep of sanitation facilities and public places.
As the battle lines are drawn, Thakur's family lives in simplicity Thakur's grand daughter, Amrita Ku mari, works as an Anganwa di supervisor "I told PM abo ut my work. He said do it with all dedication," said Kumari pointing to the place where Modi sat during his recent visit to their place.
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