Bihar Lok Sabha elections 2024: Key constituencies and candidates in Phase 5

Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) founder Chirag Paswan's father late Ram Vilas Paswan represented the Hajipur Lok Sabha constituency record eight times. (Courtesy: X | @LJP4India)

Bihar sends 40 members to the Lok Sabha and 19 constituencies have already voted in the ongoing elections in four phases held between April 19 and May 13. Sitamarhi, Madhubani, Muzaffarpur, Saran and Hajipur are the five Lok Sabha constituencies of Bihar which will go to polls in the fifth phase on May 20. The state, along with Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, is voting in all seven phases of the Lok Sabha elections.

The fourth phase of elections witnessed over 62% polling across 96 constituencies in 10 states and Union territories. Bihar recorded 57.06% (provisional) voter turnout. The five constituencies which voted on May 13 include Darbhanga, Ujiarpur, Samastipur, Begusarai and Munger.

Also read | Rohini vs Rudy: How the contest in Bihar's Saran may come down to Lalu Prasad’s legacy

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Janata Dal (United) and the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) are the key parties of the NDA in Bihar contesting the polls. The INDIA (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance) bloc comprises Congress and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).

Saran: One of the most crucial seats of Bihar going to polls on May 20, Saran will see Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav's daughter Rohini Acharya's foray into politics. She will take on incumbent Rajiv Pratap Rudy of the BJP who won from Saran in 2014 by defeating Rohini's mother and former CM of Bihar Rabri Devi. Before the delimitation exercise, Saran was known as Chapra Lok Sabha constituency, which Rudy represented in 1996 as well as 1999. Lalu Prasad, who was the railway minister from 2004 to 2009, represented the Saran constituency four times. The RJD supremo first tasted success from Chapra in 1977 and in 2009 defeated Rudy with a margin of over 51,000 votes. In the old RJD bastion, Rajputs and Yadavs are the two dominant castes in politics. While Rudy is a Rajput (a powerful upper caste), Rohini belongs to the Yadav caste (powerful OBC).

Also read: Lalu's political dynasty extends as daughter Rohini pads up for Saran seat

Hajipur: This Lok Sabha constituency of Bihar is keenly watched as Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) founder Chirag Paswan is contesting form Hajipur, which is currently represented by his uncle Pashupati Kumar Paras. In 2019, Paras defeated RJD's Shiv Chandra Ram by a margin of over 2 lakh votes. Chirag Paswan's father late Ram Vilas Paswan represented the Hajipur Lok Sabha constituency record eight times. It was in 1977 when the former Union minister won from the seat as a Janata Party member. In 2000, Ram Vilas Paswan founded the Lok Janshakti Party, which split in 2021 and the other faction is currently headed by his brother Paras. It will be tough test for the junior Paswan it is not just about a win but about retaking the Hajipur seat which was once synonymous with his father.

Also read: Chirag Paswan steps up as 'kid bro'; outwits his wily uncle

Muzaffarpur: Another interesting battle in Bihar will be the one in Muzaffarpur where the Congress has fielded BJP turncoat and incumbent MP Ajay Nishad. The saffron party dropped Nishad and instead nominated Vikassheel Insan Party (VIP) leader Raj Bhushan Chaudhary. What makes the contest interesting is that Nishad (as a BJP candidate) had defeated Chaudhary by a margin of over 4 lakh votes in 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The BJP turncoat had emerged victorious in 2014 as well when he defeated Congress' Akhilesh Prasad Singh. This seat was also represented by Nishad's father Jai Narain Prasad Nishad multiple times - 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2009. Former defence minister George Fernandes had represented Muzzafarpur five times in the Lok Sabha. He had contested the 1977 elections from jail and emerged victorious.