West Champaran district in Bihar, once infamous for violent crime and migration due to poor law and order, has witnessed notable improvements in recent years. The region, historically famous for Mahatma Gandhi's first satyagraha, suffered from rampant dacoity and abductions during the 1980s and 1990s, with criminal gangs dominating until 2005. Bihar remains the second-highest state for outward migration after Uttar Pradesh. However, according to the 2011 Census, West Champaran emerged as one of 14 districts providing a pull factor for migration within Bihar. The district also saw significant return migration during the Covid pandemic in 2020 when many workers lost jobs elsewhere. Local residents credit Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's administration for restoring safety, building quality roads, and enabling small businesses to operate late into the evening. The upcoming Bihar elections scheduled for November 11 in the second phase will test whether this goodwill translates into votes. The ruling NDA faces challenges from the opposition Mahagathbandhan led by Tejashwi Yadav and the new entrant Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj party. Young voters particularly express frustration over persistent unemployment, despite acknowledging infrastructure gains. The district holds nine Assembly seats, with the BJP controlling seven, making it a crucial electoral battleground.
Return of Migrants and Improved Safety
Many residents who previously migrated for work have returned to West Champaran, citing improved security and infrastructure. Sanjay Gupta, who runs a small eatery on the national highway, explained that better roads and safety allowed him to establish a business and stay with family. Earlier, keeping shops open after dark was unthinkable, but now businesses operate until late evening. Sheela Devi avoided sending her younger son Naresh to Mumbai after her elder son faced medical expenses that consumed his entire month's salary of Rs 15,000. Naresh, 22 years old, now works at a local fish market, earning less but enjoying family proximity. Advocate Ram Babu Kumar believes Nitish's policies reduced migration by 3-5 percent in the district. The Covid pandemic in 2020 accelerated return migration when workers lost jobs in other states, with West Champaran receiving a large influx of returning residents.
Electoral Contest and Demand for Change
The upcoming polls present a multi-cornered contest, particularly in the Bettiah constituency where five-term MLA and former deputy chief minister Renu Devi faces Congress candidate Wasi Ahmad, Jan Suraaj's Anil Singh, and Independent Rohit Sikaria. In 2020, she won by 18,079 votes against Congress. While many residents acknowledge infrastructure improvements, younger voters express frustration over persistent unemployment. Rickshaw driver Rajesh Kumar in Motihari stated that roads and law and order cannot be the sole campaign promise every election. Raj Kumar, 28, who works in Hyderabad, plans to vote for Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj, hoping it will address youth employment. Grocery shop owner Pradeep Kumar's family, traditional BJP supporters, switched allegiance to Jan Suraaj following their elderly uncle's decision that Bihar needs change, reflecting growing restlessness among some voter segments.
Economic Progress and Industrial Challenges
West Champaran accounts for over 40 percent of Bihar's sugar production, with approximately six sugar mills operating in the region. The district reportedly has the state's highest tractor purchase numbers, indicating agricultural prosperity. Land values increased by 200 percent over 20 years, encouraging youth to remain rather than migrate. Prateek Edwin Sharma, chairman of Chanakya College of Education, noted that sugarcane farmers can now sell produce within 25-40 kilometers, whereas they previously traveled to Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh. However, challenges persist. The much-publicized startup zone in Chanpatia block has faced difficulties and has not been replicated elsewhere. MP Sanjay Jaiswal blamed the 18-month Mahagathbandhan government between August 2022 and January 2024 for halting NDA initiatives. The central government has announced a multi-sector Special Economic Zone in Kumarbagh industrial area, with proposals for two industrial parks currently underway.
Source: Link