The Begusarai Lok Sabha seat in Bihar is among the state's 40 constituencies that will be up for grabs. Currently held by BJP's Giriraj Singh, the region was once known to be a hotbed of Left Wing politics. It was even called the "Leningrad of Bihar", a reference to the Soviet-era city (now St Petersburg) where Bolshevik leader Vladimir Lenin heralded the Russian Revolution with the October Revolution.
Why Was Begusarai Known As 'Leningrad Of Bihar'?
There was a time when the now-saffron region was 'Red'. Communism played a big role in shaping Begusarai. The roots of communism can be traced back to the late 1920s and 1930s when peasants revolted against the zamindars. Begusarai was also an active participant in Mahatma Gandhi's satyagraha or Civil Disobedience Movement. They refused to pay Chowkidari Tax to the zamindars.
Begusarai and its surrounding areas have been historically regarded as Bihar's Leningrad, marked by a mix of feudal and bourgeois traits. The area's enduring feudalism, combined with a concentration of land among a small group of zamindars, has played a pivotal role in shaping the political landscape.
The constituency has been a hub of industries, housing fertilizer plants, thermal power plants, refineries, and dairy units. The thousands of workers employed in these factories have been a significant catchment area for the communists.
At present, the Teghra and Bakhri assembly seats are with the CPI, Cheria-Bariarpur and Sahebpur Kamal are with RJD, and Matihani is with RJD. The Bachhwara and Begu assembly seats are with the BJP.
Begusarai In Lok Sabha
BJP's Bhumihar leader Giriraj Singh is the incumbent MP in the Begusarai constituency. He is also a Union Minister in the Narendra Modi Cabinet. Before him, the seat was held by the BJP's Bhola Singh, who was part of other parties in Bihar like the RJD, Congress, and CPI.
The seat was held for the longest time (three consecutive terms) by Mathura Prasad Mishra of the Congress. He won the Lok Sabha elections in 1952, 1957, and 1962.
Firebrand leader Kanhaiya Kumar contested the seat in 2019 on a CPI ticket but lost to Giriraj Singh by 4.2 lakh votes. Kanhaiya Kumar joined the Congress in 2021.
The constituency in 2019 had 19.58 voters. The Begusarai district had a population of 29 lakh. The district had an 86% population of Hindus and 13.7% population of Muslims.