Thousands of Biharis Return from Jharkhand to Cast Votes in Bihar, Seeking Escape from Migration and a Better Future

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Ranchi, Jharkhand: Ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections, thousands of Biharis residing across cities in Jharkhand are returning to their native villages to exercise their voting rights. Carrying hopes, dreams, and aspirations for a better future, they are eager to see the new government address issues such as education, employment, and migration.

Many voters had already returned home during festivals, and now they are staying back to cast their ballots in the elections. Traveling by buses and trains, these migrants expressed optimism about the change that voting might bring.

Hopes of Freedom from Forced Migration
Sujit Kumar, a businessman who moved to Kantatoli two years ago, said he would return to his hometown, Navinagar, to vote in the second phase of polling. “I am voting in the hope that the government will address issues such as education, unemployment, and forced migration,” he said.

He added that 150 to 200 people from his area have moved from Bihar to Jharkhand in search of better opportunities. Sujit also highlighted the lack of medical facilities as a major reason behind migration. Comparing life in Ranchi to his hometown, he remarked, “The difference is like hell and heaven. I ran a small textile business back home, but despite my efforts, it could not grow.”

Dreams of Returning Home
Saurabh Singh, who runs a salon in Ratu Road, Ranchi, dreams of returning to his native village, Simri Jathia. He had visited his village during Dussehra and stayed back to vote on 11th November. “I will vote for a candidate and party that can help me return home in the future. Earning a livelihood in my own village would bring me ultimate joy,” he said.

Life in Bihar Remains Challenging
Another migrant, Ranjit Kumar, a contractor and small eatery owner in Ranchi, shared that he moved to Jharkhand in 2018 to escape extortion and political interference in Bihar. “Here, I can work peacefully. It is a much better place to live,” he said. Ranjit plans to return to Patna on 6th November to vote, hoping that conditions improve back home so he can eventually move back. He also emphasized that if he doesn’t return, he would ensure his children settle in Jharkhand.

Migration Reflects Aspirations for a Better Life
For thousands of Biharis living in cities like Ranchi, the election period is an opportunity not only to exercise their voting rights but also to voice their expectations for improved facilities and opportunities in Bihar. Caught between their present life in Jharkhand and their hopes rooted in their ancestral villages, these voters symbolize the desire for education, employment, and a better standard of living.

As they cast their ballots, the question remains whether the new government will rise to meet their aspirations or leave their dreams of returning home unfulfilled.