Ghosi (Jehanabad), Nov. 5 (UNI) The Ghosi Assembly constituency in Bihar’s Jehanabad district, long known for its political significance, is in the spotlight as the state heads toward another crucial election.
For over three decades starting 1977 to 2010, the politics of Ghosi revolved around one influential leader, Jagdish Sharma, who dominated the constituency by winning eight consecutive elections, setting a record in Bihar’s political history.
The region, part of the Magadh belt, first elected independent candidate Ramchandra Yadav in 1951. Since then, Ghosi’s voters have tended to favour candidates based on personal credibility rather than strict party allegiance, a trend exemplified by Sharma’s retaining his hold on the seat.
Even after Jagdish Sharma became a Member of Parliament from Jehanabad in 2009, his family maintained its influence. His wife Shanti Sharma won the by-election the same year as an Independent candidate, while his son Rahul Sharma retained the seat in 2010 on a JD(U) ticket.
However, the last two elections have seen the seat slip away from the Sharma family’s hands, signaling a shift in voter sentiment.
Agriculture remains the lifeline of this predominantly rural constituency. In the 2020 Assembly elections, CPI(ML) candidate Rambali Singh Yadav won the seat by more than 17,000 votes. This time, Yadav is once again testing his political fortunes amid a changing landscape.
The JD(U) has introduced a new face in the fray, Rituraj Kumar, son of former MP Arun Kumar and son-in-law of former Jharkhand BJP president Ravindra Kumar Rai.
Rituraj is seen as a young, educated and dynamic leader, with two former MPs actively working on his campaign. His candidacy reflects the NDA’s strategy to regain its ground in this crucial seat.
As the election campaign intensifies, both the NDA and the Grand Alliance are pulling out all stops to woo voters. With strong local undercurrents and shifting alliances, Ghosi is set to witness a high-stakes, thrilling battle that could redefine the region’s political equation.
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