Despite Congress Setback, Two MLAs Emerge as Heroes in Bihar, Deal Blow to Modi’s Influence

Patna/Araria: The 2025 Bihar Assembly elections dealt a severe blow to the Congress party, with the party managing to secure only six seats out of 61 candidates fielded. However, in the midst of this electoral setback, two Congress candidates—Manoj Vishwas from Forbesganj and Abhishek Ranjan from Chanpatia—achieved remarkable victories, sending shockwaves through the BJP strongholds.

Congress’ Small Yet Significant Wins

The six Congress MLAs elected this year include:

• Seemanchal Region: Manoj Vishwas (Forbesganj), Abidur Rehman (Araria), Mohammad Kamrul Hoda (Kishanganj), Manohar Prasad Singh (Manihari)
• Champaran Region: Abhishek Ranjan (Chanpatia), Surendra Prasad (Valmikinagar)

Despite the party’s overall poor performance, the wins in Forbesganj and Chanpatia stood out for multiple reasons. Both Manoj Vishwas and Abhishek Ranjan defeated incumbent BJP leaders, highlighting voter sentiment shifts in these constituencies.

Forbesganj: A Historic BJP Stronghold Overturned

Manoj Vishwas’ victory in Forbesganj was particularly noteworthy. He defeated two-time BJP MLA Vidya Sagar Keshri by a narrow margin of just 221 votes, ending 35 years of continuous BJP dominance in the constituency (except in 2000 when BSP’s Zakir Hussain Khan won). Forbesganj had long been a preferred rally site for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who addressed multiple election rallies there, including one on 6 November 2025. BJP sources acknowledged the upset as a significant setback, emphasizing the historic nature of Vishwas’ win.

Political analysts suggest that this narrow victory could have long-term implications for BJP influence in the region, especially without Nitish Kumar’s leadership within the NDA framework. Manoj Vishwas, hailing from an extremely backward caste, is only the second legislator from this block since 1952, reflecting Congress’ expanding social base.

Chanpatia Reflects Changing Voter Mood

Similarly, Abhishek Ranjan’s triumph in Chanpatia signals evolving voter preferences. Historically, this constituency has witnessed representation from multiple parties: Congress five times, Samajwadi and Janata factions four times, CPI thrice, and BJP six times between 2000 and 2020. Ranjan’s win emphasizes Congress’ ability to penetrate entrenched BJP areas and resonate with local voters despite the party’s overall electoral downturn.

A Symbolic Victory Amidst Overall Losses

While Congress faced a crushing defeat in Bihar 2025, the successes of Vishwas and Ranjan serve as symbolic victories, demonstrating that strong grassroots connections and local leadership can offset broader political waves. These wins not only boost the morale of the party cadres but also challenge BJP’s dominance in historically secure regions.