In the second phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, voting is taking place for five seats in Bihar. Three of these seats are in Seemanchal. The fight for the parliamentary seats of Katihar, Kishanganj, and Purnia is triangular on two seats. The competition between Kishanganj and Purnia seems particularly intriguing. A close contest among three candidates is being observed at both places. The opposition managed to taste victory on just one seat in Seemanchal in the last Lok Sabha elections. This time, both the ruling party and the opposition have put their full strength into the battle. In the history of Muslim majority seat Kishanganj, only one Hindu candidate has won.
Battle for Muslim Majority Seat Kishanganj:
A tough battle is underway between three candidates for the Muslim majority Kishanganj seat in Seemanchal. The fight is between Congress candidate Mohammad Javed, JDU candidate Master Mujahid, and AIMIM candidate Akhtarul Iman. In the previous elections, there was a tough fight between JDU, Congress, and AIMIM candidates, and Congress emerged victorious in this seat. Kishanganj has more than 60% Muslim voters. All parties’ leaders are making efforts to consolidate Muslim voters.
AIMIM’s Entry Intensifies the Contest:
Congress has consistently won the Kishanganj Lok Sabha seat in the last three elections. Even in the strong Modi wave seen in 2014 and 2019 across the country, Congress emerged victorious from here. In the last elections, Kishanganj thwarted NDA’s plans for a clean sweep in Bihar. This time, the entry of Asaduddin Owaisi’s party, AIMIM, has intensified the triangular contest. Owaisi has been camping in Kishanganj for a few days now. In the last elections, the AIMIM candidate received respectable votes here. The Congress candidate received 367,177 votes, while JDU came in second with 332,551 votes. The AIMIM candidate, who came in third, received 295,029 votes. It is worth mentioning that in the last assembly elections, Owaisi’s party won on all five seats in Seemanchal.
The Lone Hindu MP from Kishanganj:
Only once has a Hindu candidate won the Kishanganj parliamentary seat. Muslims have consistently won from this seat. Lachhman Lal Kapoor won on this seat in the 1967 elections. Since then, Muslim candidates from various parties have won here. In the Lok Sabha elections of 2024, there are a total of 1,824,881 voters here, including 942,839 male and 881,976 female voters. Speaking of the last two Lok Sabha elections, more than 65% of the votes were cast on this seat. Voters here have shown particular enthusiasm for voting.
MPs from Kishanganj:
1957 – M. Tahir: Congress
1962 – M. Tahir: Congress
1967 – Lachhman Lal Kapoor: PSP
1971 – Jameelur Rahman: Congress
1977 – Halimuddin Ahmed: BLD
1980 – Jameelur Rahman: Congress
1985 – Saiyad Shahabuddin: Janata Party
1989 – M.J. Akbar: Congress
1991 – Saiyad Shahabuddin: Janata Dal
1996 – Mohammad Taslimuddin: Janata Dal
1998 – Mohammad Taslimuddin: RJD
1999 – Saiyad Shahnavaz Husain: BJP
2004 – Mohammad Taslimuddin: RJD
2009 – Mohammad Asrarul Haque: Congress
2014 – Mohammad Asrarul Haque: Congress
2019 – Mohammad Javed Ajaad: Congress
