From borders to ballots: Bihar's voters focus on ground realities
As India and Pakistan de-escalate tensions, Bihar's political focus shifts to the upcoming elections, where local issues dominate voter concerns. Despite lingering discussions about Indo-Pak relations, employment, corruption, and the caste census are paramount.
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(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are that of the writer. The facts and opinions expressed here do not reflect the views of www.economictimes.com .)
With India and Pakistan agreeing to end aggressive manoeuvres, political discourse in parts of Bihar has swiftly shifted to the upcoming state assembly elections. While Indo-Pak tensions still surface in casual conversations, most voters are focused on everyday concerns - employment, migration, corruption, law and order, healthcare, education, infrastructure - and, above all, the caste census Those who've lived through earlier conflicts between the neighbours say plainly, "Wars are never good. They are always bad." But many in the younger generation, keen on "action," don't entirely agree. Still, there's consensus across age groups that local issues demand more urgent attention.In Bihar's litchi and mango belts, theft from orchards is a growing concern. In Purnea district, one villager shared an unusual story: after cremating his father in their orchard last month, thefts mysteriously stopped. "Some say they've heard my father's voice near the orchard," Tanu says with a smile. Even so, villagers are aware they need more practical solutions.In Sitamarhi, which borders Nepal, the recent India-Pakistan tension sparked debates with an unexpected twist - caste. Some villagers focused on the caste of the armed forces' top brass and urged others to declare their caste openly during census. This push came just days after the Pahalgam terror attack. One local put it bluntly: "There is no identity sans caste."When asked whether Operation Sindoor would influence the elections, a Muzaffarpur villager shrugged: "All that is fine. But in Bihar, there's only one reality - jaat ki baat (caste talk). Everything else is secondary."On infrastructure, another Muzaffarpur resident observed, "Bihar is no longer a dust bowl, but there's no proper planning - in cities or villages. City infra is a total mess." He even compared Pakistani missiles to Bihar's crumbling bridges.Many also feel that health and education need a major push. "Jobs are there," said one youth, "but not enough to go around."While the election heat hasn't peaked yet, there's cautious optimism. "We just hope our problems are resolved as swiftly as Pakistan was taught a lesson," said a villager.
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