Sikandra (SC) Assembly Constituency Bihar Election 2025

Sikandra (SC) Assembly constituency (Constituency No. 240) – Bihar

Sikandra (SC) is a Scheduled Caste–reserved Assembly constituency in the eastern region of Bihar, located in Jamui district. It is part of the Jamui Lok Sabha constituency, one of the politically significant parliamentary segments in south-eastern Bihar. Geographically, Sikandra is marked by a mix of rural landscapes, small towns, and agrarian settlements, with agriculture serving as the primary livelihood for most residents. The constituency is connected by road networks linking Jamui town and neighbouring blocks, though infrastructural development remains uneven across its villages.

Over the years, Sikandra has witnessed dynamic and competitive electoral politics, reflecting Bihar’s broader political shifts. Once dominated by traditional caste alignments, the seat has gradually seen voter priorities expand beyond identity politics towards tangible issues like employment, education, healthcare, and infrastructure. While caste affiliations—particularly among Scheduled Castes, Yadavs, and Extremely Backward Castes (EBCs)—continue to influence outcomes, a growing segment of youth and first-time voters is increasingly shaping the discourse around development, opportunities, and governance performance.

Political competition in Sikandra has intensified with the participation of both state-level and regional parties, including the Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Janata Dal (United), and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Each election has brought new alignments and contest dynamics, mirroring the fluid coalition politics of Bihar. The constituency’s evolution from a caste-based stronghold to a battleground for development-focused campaigning reflects the changing aspirations of its electorate.

As Bihar’s politics continue to evolve around infrastructure expansion, livelihood generation, and youth empowerment, Sikandra emerges as a microcosm of these transitions. Its voters today balance local governance concerns—such as road connectivity, access to education, and irrigation facilities—with broader socio-economic issues related to migration, employment, and welfare delivery. This blend of continuity and change positions Sikandra as a crucial constituency in understanding the state’s ongoing political and developmental transformation.

Sikandra (SC) Assembly Election 2025

Sikandra (SC) Assembly Election 2025: Candidate Overview

This section will provide a brief introduction to the candidates representing different parties in the Sikandra (SC) Assembly election.

Sikandra (SC) Assembly Constituency Election Result 2025

Here, we will summarise the results from various sectors within the Sikandra (SC) constituency.

1. Foundational Details

• Name & Number: Sikandra (SC) Assembly Constituency, No. 240.
• District: Jamui.
• Parliamentary Seat: Jamui Lok Sabha constituency.
• Reservation Status: Reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC).
• Geography & Coverage: The constituency covers Sikandra block and adjoining villages/panchayats in Jamui district. It lies in a predominantly rural region, interspersed by small market towns.
• Terrain, Connectivity & Administrative Mix: The landscape is characterised by agricultural plains with some undulating areas, limited forest patches and a network of rural roads connecting to state highways. The main administrative structure comprises the Block Development Office at Sikandra, numerous gram panchayats, and linkages to the district headquarters in Jamui.
• Urban–Rural Composition: Predominantly rural, with a handful of semi-urban centres serving as marketplaces or service hubs. Agrarian livelihoods, small-town commerce and rural governance structures thus shape the electorate.

2. Electoral History & Trends

• The seat, under its current demarcation and reservation status, has seen several parties and candidates vying for dominance in recent cycles.
• 2020 Election: Prafull Kumar Manjhi of the Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) (HAM-S) won with 47,061 votes (approximately 30.67 % vote share), defeating Sudhir Kumar (alias Banty Choudhary) of the Indian National Congress (INC), who secured 41,556 votes. Margin of victory: 5,505 votes.
• 2015 Election: Sudhir Kumar (INC) won with 59,092 votes (vote share ~42.66%) and a margin of roughly 7,990 votes over the nearest rival.
• 2010 and earlier: The seat saw victories for parties such as the Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)), indicating a history of shifting party control rather than long-term single-party dominance.
• Turnout and Elector Growth: The number of registered electors has been rising; for example, ahead of the 2020 poll the electorate was ~2.88-2.90 lakh. Turnout in 2020 was moderate (just over 50 % of electors cast valid votes).
• Trends: The constituency has recently shifted away from a simple two-party contest to more fragmented multi-cornered fights, emphasising the importance of candidate identity, local networks and caste-coalition building. The relatively thin margins signal competitive politics rather than safe seats.

3. Social & Economic Fabric

• Caste and community composition: Being an SC-reserved seat, the Scheduled Castes form a substantial segment. Other significant groups include Yadavs, Koeris, Muslims, and various backward castes and minority communities. The Yadav-Muslim partnership has been reported as influential in local alliances.
• Religion & community dynamics: Predominantly Hindu, with pockets of Muslim population, especially in small towns and market centres. These religious minorities contribute to electoral sensitivity around welfare and inclusion.
• Livelihoods: Agriculture is the dominant livelihood—key crops include paddy, maize, lentils and oilseeds. Marginal farmers and landless labourers constitute a large share of the rural economy. Migration of youth for wage labour in other states is common. The market towns serve as nodes of commerce, trade in agricultural products, and small-scale retail.
• Education & literacy: Educational infrastructure is uneven. Town centres may host middle and higher secondary schools, but many villages still face inadequate schooling and limited access to higher education or vocational training.
• Urban–Rural divide: The rural hinterland remains underserved in basic infrastructure, connectivity, and access to services, while the small towns within the constituency tend to have better access. This divide shapes differential voter expectations.
• Women & youth voters: Women voters are numerically significant, but socio-economic factors constrain their participation and influence. Youth voters increasingly express demand for jobs, digital access and local infrastructure—shifting the political conversation beyond traditional caste frameworks.
• Economic stratification: There is a clear divide between small landholders and landless labourers, with the latter more vulnerable to welfare scheme delivery, employment insecurity, and seasonal migration.

4. Ground-Level Issues & Governance

• Infrastructure & Connectivity: Many rural panchayats still lack all-weather roads, reliable electricity, and digital connectivity. Interior areas face higher travel time to block or district centres.
• Agriculture & Livelihoods: Irrigation coverage remains limited; many farmers rely on monsoon rains. Landholding patterns skew towards small and marginal farmers, reducing economies of scale. Landless households often depend on casual labour.
• Employment & Migration: Absence of local non-farm employment compels youth to migrate seasonally. Skill‐training and local entrepreneurship have limited penetration.
• Education & Healthcare: Health centres face staffing and equipment shortages. School infrastructure in remote villages is weak; higher education and technical training remain out of reach for most young residents.
• Welfare Delivery & Governance: Central and state schemes—such as housing, sanitation, drinking‐water, and rural employment—feature prominently in local politics. However, implementation gaps, delays and awareness issues persist.
• Voter Turnout & Representation: Lower turnout in remote or poorly connected hamlets reduces effective representation. Governance perceptions are tied to visible work such as road repairs, welfare registrations, electrification, and public amenities.
• Performance of MLA & Local Institutions: The sitting MLA’s visibility in welfare and infrastructure, responsiveness to caste/community issues, and engagement with youth employment will be key metrics of future evaluation.

5. Political Actors & Party Dynamics

• Key political actors: Prafull Kumar Manjhi (HAM-S) is the current MLA, having won in 2020. Sudhir Kumar (INC) remains an essential challenger with local recognition. Earlier, JD(U) and other regional players held sway, reflecting a shifting party landscape.
• Major parties’ presence: INC retains a traditional base; HAM-S emerged as a viable player, particularly among SC communities; BJP and JD(U) have organisational presence but less dominance in this seat.
• Campaign dynamics: Caste-based mobilisation remains significant—SC leadership, Yadav-Muslim support blocs, and backward caste alliances are influential. Campaigns focus strongly on welfare delivery, local development, caste representation and candidate accessibility.
• Alliance and intra-party nuances: State-level alliance structures (e.g., NDA vs Mahagathbandhan) influence local alignments, though local candidate reputation often overrides party label. Intra‐party factionalism or local dissidence can tip the results in this tense contest environment.
• Small parties and independents: Independents and smaller parties have secured noticeable vote shares in past elections (for example, ~11.8% in 2020), indicating this seat’s openness to non-mainstream players and the importance of localised appeal.

6. Strategic Electoral Analysis

• Voting blocs & behaviour: SC voters are a central bloc, given their reservation status. Additionally, Yadavs (OBC), Muslims, backward castes and marginalised communities matter in coalition building. Upper-caste vote is less prominent but can swing if the candidate has local grounding.
• Booth‐level variations: More accessible villages or those near market towns tend to have higher turnout and more substantial support for the winning party. Remote hamlets with poorer access and welfare delivery often show lower turnout and higher volatility.
• Candidate effect: Personal reputation, local ties, caste identity, and the candidate’s accessibility are often decisive. A credible local candidate who engages with welfare delivery and caste/community mobilisation tends to outperform mere party backing.
• External influences —such as state-level alliance shifts, welfare scheme rollouts, national policy thrusts (e.g., SC welfare), and district-level development trends — affect local voter sentiment. The constituency’s demographic change (youth population growth) and migratory patterns also influence the outcome.
• Margin & competitiveness: The relatively narrow margin of 5,505 votes in 2020 signals that, despite the constituency being reserved and structured, it remains competitive—minor shifts in voter mobilisation or alliance strategy could alter outcomes.

Forward-Looking Analysis

From now on, key elements shaping the Sikandra contest will include local development delivery, youth employment opportunities, and infrastructure improvement, especially in remote villages. As newer voters emphasise outcome-based politics rather than purely identity politics, parties and candidates who present credible local delivery plans will gain traction.

The challenge for incumbents lies in reducing the rural-urban divide within the constituency, enhancing access to skill training and non-farm jobs, and ensuring welfare schemes reach marginalised segments effectively. For challengers, mounting a coalition of SC voters, backward caste communities, minorities and disenchanted youth could narrow the existing margin.

State alliance dynamics will matter: any major realignment (for example, if HAM-S or INC enters a stronger coalition) will impact Sikandra’s electoral arithmetic. Migration trends may shift voter expectations toward jobs and connectivity rather than welfare alone.

In essence, while Sikandra remains a reserved SC seat with distinct caste-based contours, its evolving voter base, aspirational youth and development emphasis imply that the next election could hinge less on legacy affiliations and more on tangible local impact.

FAQs

What is the reservation status of the Sikandra (SC) Assembly constituency?

Sikandra (SC) Assembly constituency is reserved exclusively for candidates belonging to the Scheduled Castes (SC) community. This reservation ensures political representation and inclusion of historically marginalised groups in the democratic process. Only SC candidates can contest elections from this seat, reflecting Bihar’s broader commitment to social justice and equitable political participation across all sections of society, as mandated under the Indian Constitution’s affirmative action provisions.

Who is the current MLA of Sikandra and which party does he represent?

The current Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Sikandra (SC) is Prafull Kumar Manjhi, representing the Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) [HAM(S)]. He was elected in the 2020 Bihar Assembly elections, securing the seat after a competitive multi-party contest. His victory marked an essential gain for HAM(S) in the Jamui region, reflecting the party’s ability to mobilise Scheduled Caste voters alongside support from other backward and marginalised communities.

Which Lok Sabha constituency does Sikandra fall under?

Sikandra (SC) Assembly constituency forms part of the Jamui Lok Sabha constituency in Jamui district, Bihar. The Jamui parliamentary seat is a politically significant region that includes several other assembly segments such as Jamui, Jhajha, Chakai, and Barhat. Being part of the Jamui Lok Sabha constituency, Sikandra’s development and representation are influenced by coordination between the local MLA and the Member of Parliament (MP), particularly in rural infrastructure, education, and welfare schemes.

What was the margin of victory in the 2020 Sikandra election?

In the 2020 Bihar Assembly election, Prafull Kumar Manjhi of HAM(S) won the Sikandra (SC) seat with a margin of 5,505 votes, approximately 3.66% over his nearest rival. This relatively narrow victory margin highlighted the constituency’s competitive political environment. It also reflected fragmented vote patterns across various caste and community lines, with the performance of smaller parties and independents significantly influencing the outcome in this reserved constituency.

What are the significant issues facing voters in Sikandra?

Voters in Sikandra continue to face challenges related to agriculture, employment, and infrastructure. Many depend on rain-fed farming, with limited irrigation support and access to modern agri-tools. Poor road connectivity, electricity supply, and digital infrastructure affect rural livelihoods. Outmigration for work is common due to a lack of local job opportunities. In addition, inadequate healthcare, education facilities, and slow implementation of welfare schemes remain pressing concerns shaping voter expectations and electoral debates.

Which voter groups are decisive in Sikandra elections?

The Scheduled Castes, being the dominant group due to the constituency’s reserved status, are the most influential voters in Sikandra. However, other social groups, such as Yadavs, Extremely Backward Castes (EBCs), and Muslims, also play a vital role in shaping electoral results. Political parties often form coalitions or caste-based alliances to consolidate support across these communities. The interplay between caste identities, local leadership appeal, and development promises usually determines the final voting patterns.

What could shape the next election in Sikandra?

Improvements could influence the next election in Sikandra in rural infrastructure, the creation of local non-farm employment, and the better implementation of welfare programmes. Voter mobilisation among youth and women, particularly first-time voters, may also redefine constituency dynamics. Additionally, effective alliance building among parties representing Scheduled Castes, Other Backwards Classes (OBCs), and minorities will likely determine electoral outcomes. Development credibility and grassroots connections will be key to retaining or winning voter confidence.