The political dynamics in Seemanchal — encompassing the districts of Kishanganj, Purnia, and Katihar in Bihar — reveal a paradox. Its citizens, in one of India’s most backward regions, yearn for governance that will liberate them from cycles of dependence on weather and migration for a better living. But the demography of the place, the overarching influence of the Bharatiya Janata Party from the Centre, and the fragmented polity ensure that simple equations of communal and caste support continue to over-determine electoral variables in the region. While livelihood issues remain the primary concern for working and underprivileged classes, the electoral landscape here is heavily influenced by a mix of identity politics, caste, and religion.

The spectre of the SIR

The issue of the Speci

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