With Bihar Assembly elections on the horizon, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to make a powerful political statement from Siwan, the former bastion of RJD heavyweight Mohammad Shahabuddin. On Friday, PM Modi will hold a massive rally, using the development card to target the Saran division, a region long dominated by Lalu Yadav’s Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).
Election Heat Rises Before Official Poll Announcement
Though the Election Commission hasn’t yet declared dates, political momentum is building rapidly. PM Modi’s back-to-back visits—this being his sixth trip to Bihar in the past nine months—are part of the BJP’s push to shift the political tide ahead of the October-November Assembly polls.
As part of his two-day tour covering Bihar, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh, Modi will inaugurate and lay the foundation for a slew of development projects in Bihar, before heading to Odisha and Andhra on Saturday to participate in International Yoga Day celebrations.
₹5,736 Crore Development Push from Siwan
PM Modi’s Siwan visit isn’t just symbolic — it comes loaded with big-ticket announcements:
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Inauguration/foundation stone laying of 22 projects worth ₹5,736 crore
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Flagging off Vande Bharat Express between Patliputra and Gorakhpur
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500 MW battery energy storage system project
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Water supply, STP, and sanitation work worth ₹3,000 crore
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Distribution of PM Awas Yojana funds to 53,600 beneficiaries
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Griha Pravesh for 6,684 urban poor families
Clearly, this is not just about optics — it's a clear attempt to woo voters across caste and class lines.
Target: Saran Division — Lalu’s Political Heartland
PM Modi’s rally at Jasoli village in Siwan is a strategic signal. The BJP is eyeing all 24 Assembly seats across Siwan, Saran, and Gopalganj — the three districts that form the Saran Division, historically aligned with the RJD.
Let’s break down the 2020 Bihar Assembly numbers:
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Siwan (8 seats): Mahagathbandhan – 6 | NDA – 2
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Saran (10 seats): Mahagathbandhan – 7 | NDA – 3
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Gopalganj (6 seats): Both blocs split 3–3
Grand Total: Mahagathbandhan – 16 | NDA – 8
RJD’s edge in this belt is powered by a potent Yadav-Muslim alliance, especially in Siwan, where Muslims constitute 25% of voters. With Shahabuddin’s son Osama now in the RJD, the party has tightened its grip further.
Can Modi’s Rally Crack Lalu’s Wall?
The BJP’s answer to the entrenched caste equations of this region is a two-pronged strategy:
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Leverage Modi’s popularity and government schemes to attract floating voters.
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Activate non-Yadav OBCs, EBCs, and Rajput votes, especially in Gopalganj and Saran.
The selection of Siwan — a Bhojpuri heartland — is no coincidence. The district’s cultural, linguistic, and political influence bleeds into neighboring Saran and Gopalganj. The rally here is aimed at swinging sentiments across all three districts.
Breaking the Shahabuddin Spell
Siwan has long been synonymous with Shahabuddin’s dominance, built on a mix of charisma, muscle, and RJD loyalty. The Muslim-Yadav coalition has kept the BJP at bay. Now, with the former strongman’s son Osama in play, RJD looks to fortify its hold.
But BJP hopes Modi’s presence will inject fresh energy into the NDA ranks. The entire NDA machinery — from 24 constituencies — has been mobilized to ensure a strong turnout and maximum impact from the rally.
The Bigger Battle: Modi vs. Mahagathbandhan
As the clock ticks toward elections, Modi’s Siwan rally marks the start of BJP’s ground war in RJD territory. With development projects in one hand and a sharpened political narrative in the other, BJP is trying to dislodge Lalu Yadav’s long-standing base in the Saran region.
Will Modi's message resonate in the land of Shahabuddin and Lalu?
That question could define the Bihar battle in 2025.
