Bihar Polls 2025: Tough Fight in Kishanganj Between Congress, AIMIM and BJP

Kishanganj district, a key political region in Bihar, comprises four assembly seats that come under the Kishanganj Lok Sabha constituency. In total, the area includes six assembly segments — Bahadurganj, Thakurganj, Kishanganj, and Kochadhaman from Kishanganj district, while Amour and Baisi fall under Purnia district. The constituency holds a rich electoral history, with the first assembly election taking place here in 1952. 

Candidates in the Fray

This time, the Congress party has fielded Mohammad Kamarul Hoda from the Kishanganj seat. Hoda had earlier won the 2019 by-election from this seat on an AIMIM ticket. On the other hand, BJP’s Sweety Singh is contesting once again. AIMIM has given its ticket to Shams Aagaz. Voting for the Kishanganj assembly seat will take place in the second phase on November 11. In the 2020 assembly elections, Congress candidate Izharul Hussain won with 60,599 votes, defeating BJP’s Sweety Singh, who secured 59,378 votes.

Past Election Winners

In 1952, Congress candidate Kamleshwar Prasad Yadav won the election, followed by Abdul Hayat of Congress in 1957. In 1962, Mohammad Hussain Azad from the Swatantra Party emerged victorious. In 1967, L.L. Kapoor from the Praja Socialist Party won. Rafiq Alam from Congress won consecutively in 1969, 1972, and 1977. Mohammad Mushtaq from Janata Party claimed victory in 1980, and later in 1985, he won again on a Lok Dal ticket. Mushtaq completed a hat-trick in 1990, winning on a Janata Dal ticket. In 1995, Rafiq Alam of Congress claimed his fourth win from this seat. Taslimuddin from RJD won in 2000, followed by Akhtarul Iman from RJD in 2005. Mohammad Javed from Congress won the 2010 and 2015 elections. In the 2019 bypoll, AIMIM’s Kamarul Hoda won, while in 2020, Congress’s Izharul Hussain secured the seat.

Tea Cultivation in Kishanganj

Kishanganj lies at the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas and is enriched by fertile plains nourished by the Mahananda, Mechi, and Kankai rivers. It is the only region in Bihar where tea is grown commercially. Because of this, it is often called the gateway to Darjeeling and Northeast India. The local economy mainly depends on agriculture, with rice, maize, jute, and bananas being the major crops. Tea farming and trade have given the district a unique economic identity.

The Region’s Economic Importance

The cultivation of tea has transformed Kishanganj’s economy over the years, providing employment and strengthening trade links with other states. The blend of fertile land, rich culture, and political activity makes Kishanganj one of Bihar’s most significant constituencies, where every election reflects the changing hopes of its people.