Jharkhand factor would also come into play in Bihar elections, however, on a comparatively smaller scale as thousands living in the State are likely to head to their homeland to the north of the forest land to elect a new Government amid political bickering that Bihar is witnessing in the Assembly Elections-2015.
Even as Jharkhand based politicians of all major parties head to Bihar to entice voters with sugarcoated speeches in the battle of one-upmanship, many who dream of good Governance and want to see Bihar developing hold that elections are the only opportunity worth grabbing with both hands to seek solution to basic needs of human life.
Sarita Kumari, mother of a 6-year old child, went to Patna Sahib where her name figures in the voter list. She left for Patna on October 8 and although her child’s education is getting hampered it’s a price she is willing to pay for the greater good.
“There are many issues upfront that need to be addressed. Poverty, unemployment and similar issues are far more important. We need more opportunities for our children so I can afford time for facilitating creation of better platform for his future by at least exercising my franchise,” added Sarita.
According to reports, around 2000 voters in almost all assembly constituencies in Bihar presently live in various parts of Jharkhand and the effect of these voters can be assessed from the results of previous assembly elections when the margin of win on around 100 assembly seats was less than 1000 votes. Unconfirmed reports suggest that around 10-lakh people who are living in Jharkhand feature in the voter list of various constituencies in Bihar.
However, Sarita is not just one person of the Diaspora who went back to cast vote as ripple of election which is clearly visible in J’khand has stirred up passion among few others from Bihar. A 28-year-old youth from Kishorganj, Gaurav Mishra is also planning to travel to Patna to cast his vote in elections.
Mishra who has spent his entire childhood in Ranchi and completed schooling at Ranchi expressed that the association with Bihar and the wish to see the State go under a good leadership and head on the path of development is reason enough to fly back to the native state to vote. The Ranchi lad is due to join a multinational IT company in Bangalore but expects his vote to change the situation and reverse the trend of migration from elsewhere to Bihar.
“I have been selected for a multinational firm in Bangalore. Since I have few days left to join, I thought of making best use of it. I will go to Bangalore to work but would not have been compelled to go there if such opportunity would have existed here. let’s hope that people like me vote for a government that stops brain drain and use it for the benefit of Bihar,” said Mishra.
The stalwarts of all political parties of J’khand have also thrown their weight behind their party candidates. From CM, Raghubar Das to leader of the Principal Opposition in J’khand Assembly, Hemant Soren—Bihar election has gripped voters’ and politicians’ attention alike.