Congress records strong revival in Seemanchal

Araria: The Congress staged a resurgence in the Seemanchal region in the assembly elections, emerging as the principal gainer in a politically sensitive belt that has long shaped electoral trends in eastern Bihar. The NDA suffered setbacks in Araria district, where the BJP lost its sitting Forbesganj seat to the Congress and the JD(U) failed to retain the Raniganj seat, which was won by the RJD.

With four notable victories out of the six seats it contested in Seemanchal, the Congress succeeded in reinforcing its political standing in a region where its influence had been diminishing over recent elections. The party’s strong performance has not only strengthened its morale but also helped restore its prestige in one of Bihar’s most strategically important electoral zones.


An analysis of the final results shows that the Seemanchal region, comprising Araria, Purnea, Kishanganj and Katihar districts, accounted for 24 assembly seats, of which the NDA secured 14. Within the alliance, the BJP won 7 seats, the JD(U) took 5 and the LJP(RV) secured 2.

The BJP’s victories came from Narpatganj and Sikti in Araria district; Purnia Sadar and Banmankhi in Purnia district; and Katihar Sadar, Pranpur, and Korha in Katihar district. The JD(U) secured Thakurgaon in Kishanganj district; Rupaili and Dhamdaha in Purnia district and Pranpur and Kadwa in Katihar district. The LJP (RV) retained its presence with wins in Kasba of Purnia district and Balrampur of Katihar district.

The INDIA bloc’s performance remained modest. The RJD managed to secure only one seat – Raniganj in Araria district. The Congress, however, emerged as the key gainer in Seemanchal. It retained its traditional Araria seat by defeating the JDU’s Shagufta Azim; won Kishanganj Sadar by defeating the BJP’s Sweeti Singh; retained Manihari in Katihar district and captured Forbesganj from the BJP by defeating sitting MLA Vidya Sagar Keshari.

Political observers view this shift as a telling indicator of voter sentiment in minority-dominated and socio-economically diverse constituencies. The results underline that local issues, candidate selection, and organisational mobilisation played decisive roles in shaping the electoral outcome.

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