RJD banks on Muslim unity amid rising local concerns of flood, roads and unemployment
NEW DELHI/DARBHANGA — The Alinagar Assembly seat in Bihar’s Darbhanga district is fast becoming a stage for caste-driven politics where Brahmins and Yadavs are setting the agenda, while the sizeable Muslim community, nearly one-fifth of the population, feels increasingly sidelined.
The constituency, created in 2008, has always delivered tense and closely fought battles. Muslims form about 21.2 per cent of voters here, and historically they have played the role of kingmakers. Yet, in the run-up to the 2025 elections, their voices appear muted as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) relies on the Yadav–Brahmin alliance, while the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) places its hopes on Muslim unity.
Local issues such as floods, poor roads, and rising unemployment dominate the daily lives of people in Alinagar, but many residents believe these concerns are drowned out by caste equations.
“For years, politicians have taken Muslim votes for granted,” said Mohammad Irfan, a local farmer. “We supported RJD again and again because they promised to stand by us. But when tickets were given to others, our loyalty was questioned. We feel marginalised.”
In 2010 and 2015, senior RJD leader Abdul Bari Siddiqui secured victories here with strong Muslim backing. But the 2020 polls marked a shift when the party gave ticket to Vinod Mishra, and the NDA candidate Mishri Lal Yadav of VIP edged a narrow win by just 3,101 votes.
“That election showed how badly Muslim votes were divided,” said Shabana Khatoon, a schoolteacher in Alinagar. ‘It was painful to see our unity broken while Yadav and Brahmin votes got consolidated elsewhere. It is always us who pay the price.”
The BJP later expanded its influence, particularly during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, when its candidate led by 9,842 votes in Alinagar. The combination of Yadav support, Brahmin loyalty, and what locals describe as the “Modi factor” pushed BJP ahead.
The BJP now hopes to repeat that formula in 2025, especially after Mishri Lal Yadav joined its ranks. This move has boosted the party’s Yadav base, while its Brahmin support remains strong. But observers note that the party continues to treat Muslim voters with indifference.
“BJP’s politics in this region is built on excluding Muslims,” said Prof Tanveer Alam, a political analyst from Darbhanga. “They want to divide Muslim votes and keep them weak while securing Hindu caste groups together. This is a dangerous trend for democracy.”
For the Muslim community, the question remains whether their unity can withstand the pressure of caste politics around them. Many argue that unless their votes stay consolidated, their role will be reduced to spectators in their own constituency.
“We are not asking for special treatment,” explained Mohammad Faiz, a small shopkeeper. “We just want our issues to be heard. Floods destroy our fields, roads are broken, our youth are jobless. But every election is reduced to caste deals among Hindus. Where do Muslims stand in this?”
As election campaigns intensify, both BJP and RJD will need to answer the same question: are Muslim voters simply numbers to be counted, or citizens whose concerns deserve equal attention?
The answer to that may decide not just the future of Alinagar in 2025, but also whether Muslims continue to shape Bihar’s politics — or remain sidelined by caste bargains.
