Bihar Election Vote Express: Migrants Rail Rush Ignites Bihar Poll Battle

As the first phase of the Bihar Assembly elections kicked off today with first phase of polling, a dramatic influx of migrant workers has transformed railway platforms into makeshift campaign headquarters, fueling accusations of electoral foul play from opposition leaders.

Home Coming Frenzy

At the epicenter of electoral frenzy is a new spectacle, a massive homecoming of thousands of Bihari migrants from Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Haryana, and Delhi. These workers aren't returning for any festival but to exercise their franchise in a state where their absentee ballots have long been a pain point for parties. From Uttar Pradesh to Jharkhand and from Delhi to Punjab, railway stations are swarming with masdive crowds, as party volunteers man counters doling out free tickets, meal kits, and booth-level voter guides. Announcements are made and passengers are guided to their special trains.

Who is Paying?

A mystery is of who is paying for all these stuff? Not the migrant workers or Indian Railways, but by political parties who are desperate to pump up their vote banks. Travelers arriving in Patna recount tales of free snacks, tea, and even on-board messaging about polling stations. Special trains are ensuring these laborers make it home before the polling dates. Many returnees admit they're voting for the party that brought us back, underscoring the high emotional and electoral stakes.

Tejasvi Attacks

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav, the Mahagathbandhan's chief ministerial hopeful has teared into the vote-exprees drama. Accusing the BJP-led NDA of vote buying on rails, Yadav claimed the Ministry of Railways is orchestrating special trains, complete with return tickets, to ferry lakhs of migrants from states like Delhi, Haryana, and Tamil Nadu solely to bolster the NDA's tally.

Tejasvi said - "This is the same Modi government that crammed these workers into overcrowded trains during Chhath last month without a care, or forced them to walk thousands of kilometers home during the Corona crisis in 2020-21.No special arrangements then, but now, with elections on the line, it's all double standards for their power grab!"

The Railways Ministry is keeping quite on this, offering no comment. However, official data reveals a festive rail bonanza: Over 12,000 special trains have been lined up from October 1 to November 30 for Diwali and Chhath, including 11,865 trips, a 53% jump from last year's 7,724.