Bihar By-Election 2024: Will Imamganj Constituency Elect Its Own as MLA After 24 Years?

By-election is set to take place for four seats in Bihar, including the Belaganj and Imamganj assembly constituencies in Gaya district. Voting is scheduled for November 13. The Imamganj constituency comprises three blocks: Imamganj, Banke Bazar, and Dumariya. Since 1980, this area has faced significant Maoist influence, but the current government has established multiple paramilitary camps and opened new police stations, leading to a decrease in naxal activities. Due to the area’s naxal history, polling is expected to occur from 7 AM to 4 PM.

For over two decades, the Imamganj assembly seat has been represented by outsiders, causing local residents to express dissatisfaction with the absence of a local MLA. Many believe that having a local representative would allow them to voice their concerns and celebrate their achievements more effectively. Following the announcement of the by-election, political discussions have intensified in Imamganj, focusing on potential candidates from the Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). Locals are hopeful that major parties will prioritise local candidates this time.

This seat is reserved for Scheduled Castes. Jitan Ram Manjhi of the Hindustani Awam Morcha served as MLA for the last two terms. Prior to him, Uday Narayan Chaudhary, the former Speaker of the Bihar Assembly, represented the area three times.

Ambika Prasad Singh was the first MLA from Imamganj, serving as an independent candidate from 1957 to 1962, followed by a term with the Swatantra Party. The seat has changed hands among various political figures and parties over the years, including the Indian National Congress, Samyukta Socialist Party, and Janata Party.

From 2000 to 2015, Uday Narayan Chaudhary held the position three consecutive times, and Jitan Ram Manjhi represented the constituency from 2015 until June 2024, when he was elected as an MP from Gaya, leading to the current vacancy. This by-election sees several local candidates vying for party nominations.

In total, 3,15,161 voters in the Imamganj assembly constituency will participate in the election, with 344 polling stations set up for this purpose. Among these voters, 2,371 are persons with disabilities, and 4,468 are over 85 years old. The male voter count in the 18-19 age group stands at 2,732, while female voters in the same age group number 1,651.