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Kanyakumari. Tehri Garhwal. Mithila. Seemanchal.
A look at our ground reports so far
Chhindwara. Gaya. Cooch Behar. West Champaran. East Champaran. Shahjahanpur. Bijnor. Kushinagar. Moradabad. Pilibhit. Rampur. Dibrugarh. Manipur. Coimbatore. Dausa. Tripura East. Malappuram. Pathanamthitta. Haridwar. Jashpur.
Dear reader,
You might wonder why we're suddenly mentioning these places. Well, they're where our team has been reporting from, giving you a firsthand look at the ground realities. So, keep scrolling to catch up on a few of those recent, insightful reports.
Raghu
Gaya’s Dilemma of Manjhi v. Modi even when they're on the same side!
The name Gaya resonates differently for various groups - it is revered as the origin place of Chhath Puja amongst Hindus and Bodh Gaya, the site of Buddha's enlightenment is sacred for Buddhists and Hindus alike.
Tourism is the main engine of Gaya’s economy. Bodh Gaya is the biggest crowd-puller with more than 5 lakh foreign tourists every year.
The dynamics related to its tourism-driven economy - issues and improvements - resonate in the politics of the place.
Gaya is the nucleus of Bihar’s Magadh region and is one of 6 reserved seats in Bihar.
Political Dynamics In Gaya
Candidates: Jitan Ram Manjhi of HAM represents the NDA against RJD's Kumar Sarvjeet, both with contrasting legacies and voter perceptions.
Manjhi's Legacy: Once a well-known face, Jitan Ram Manjhi's influence has been waning, as he is criticised for alleged neglect of grassroots issues and average voters despite his personal rise from humble beginnings.
Local Grievances: Rampur village exemplifies the struggles for basic amenities like roads, schools and hospitals causing discontent with existing political leadership.
Voter Sentiment: Many do not keep tabs on regular political updates and do not even know that Vijay Manjhi has been replaced by Jitan Ram Manjhi this time. Despite dissatisfaction, loyalty to PM Modi, remains strong among certain segments, including the Manjhi community.
Kumar Sarvjeet: An RJD MLA and former tourism minister enjoys a significant clout as he is considered to be accessible. But when asked whether they would now switch to RJD's Sarvjeet, people of Manjhi community said no. Whoever is with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, they will vote for him.
Caste Dynamics: Caste affiliations play a significant role, with Paswan voters caught between RJD's Sarvjeet and NDA's Manjhi, amidst shifting alliances and political maneuvers.
Campaign Strategies: Both candidates deploy aggressive campaigns, with Sarvjeet enjoying higher visibility, while Manjhi relies on his legacy and Modi's endorsement to sway swing voters.
Expectations: If Manjhi wins, people expect the double engine government to improve tourism infrastructure and equitable development, emphasizing the need for attention to basic facilities.
Future Prospects: “They (NDA) have made their task tough by fielding Jitan Ram Manjhi, but he will get through in the name of Modi,” said Umesh Manjhi, a local.
Surya Bats For Annamalai In Coimbatore
Tejasvi Surya was in Coimbatore to campaign for K Annamalai as the latter prepares to make his electoral debut.
He participated in a town hall event with writer Shefali Vaidya, engaging with 500 first-time voters and influencers.
Surya emphasised the election's significance in shaping the aspirations of a new India.
He highlighted the optimism and enthusiasm among voters and BJP cadre, citing Prime Minister Modi's engagement and numerous visits.
Surya highlighted Coimbatore's potential as an economic hub, requires leadership aligned with central government for development initiatives.
Annamalai aims to prioritize initiatives like NIA centres and cybercrime police stations, benefiting women and fostering entrepreneurship.
Surya underscored Annamalai's leadership in building BJP's presence in Tamil Nadu and promoting a progressive, development-oriented vision.
Tejaswi advocated for electoral reforms to facilitate inclusive political participation and empower grassroots leaders.
Identifying challenges in countering dynastic politics and corruption in opposition parties, he compared DMK in Tamil Nadu and Congress in Karnataka.
Surya also stressed the importance of economic empowerment over freebies, highlighting initiatives like PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana.
He advocated for financial literacy and legitimate wealth creation, emphasizing investments in mutual funds and stocks.
Insights from Madhubani enroute 'Hridaypath' with Swarajya's Banuchandar Nagarajan
Rural roads from Sitamarhi to Madhubani are quite impressive.
But some villages resemble the desperate 1980s, highlighting the complexity in assessing progress.
Good roads are necessary but not indicative of overall development.
Artisan Exploration:
An artisan village, the place is known for Madhubani paintings.
A serendipitous detour to explore this art led to Padmashri Baua Devi's home in Jitwarpur, 45 minutes north of Madhubani town, where her sons shared insights as she wasn't home.
While Madhubani paintings have been added under One District One Product (ODOP) scheme, there are complaints about Ministry of Textiles' branch office in Madhubani and implementation of MUDRA loans.
Madhubani Politics:
BJP's Ashok Kumar Yadav faces RJD's Ali Ashraf Fatmi in the upcoming polls.
Ashok Kumar Yadav is the son of Hukumdev Narayan Yadav, ex-Union Minister of Textiles in PM Modi's first cabinet. A Padma Bhushan awardee, his journey from Gram Sabha Pradhan to the parliament is inspirational.
Ajay Singh Yadav will be helpful in luring Yadavs of Bihar who have started moving on from the RJD and began voting based on economic aspirations.
Supaul Pit-stop:
There's rigorous alcohol checking en route to Forbesganj.
The importance of disaster management in poverty reduction is huge in Kosi river's adjacent areas due to its frequently changing course.
JDU's Dileshwar Kamait will face RJD's Chandrahas Chaupal. Kamait handsomely defeated Congress' Ranjeet Ranjan in 2019
Araria Dynamics:
Araria, Bihar's poorest district, BJP's Pradeep Kumar Singh is dominant.
Araria exhibits the triumph of BJP-JDU-LJP combine over RJD's Muslim-Yadav combination.
Kishanganj Analysis:
Kishanganj, with unique Hindu-Muslim ratio of 30:70, is a Congress bastion.
In 2019, it was the only seat that Congress managed to win in Bihar
INDI Alliance's has renominated Mohammad Javed against JDU's Mujahid Alam and AMIM's Akhtarul Iman.
Bihar's Resilience:
Despite challenges, Bihar's state of mind embodies contentment and resilience, offering a unique perspective on life.
Bihar's approach to life encompasses a potential appeal to urban youth seeking tranquility amidst modern chaos.
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