The Purnia Assembly constituency in Bihar has become a key area for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as it heads into the 2025 elections. BJP candidate Vijay Kumar Khemka is set to contest against Jitendra Kumar from the Congress and Santosh Kumar Singh of Jan Suraaj. This election marks a continuation of the growing influence of the BJP in the region.
Purnia Election 2025: Key Candidates and Historical Context
Vijay Kumar Khemka is no stranger to the electoral landscape in Purnia. He has secured victories in both the 2015 and 2020 elections. In the 2020 polls, Khemka received 97,757 votes, defeating Congress’s Indu Sinha with a margin of 32,154 votes. This race saw a total of 3,12,793 registered voters, with 1,85,201 valid votes cast.
- 2020 Election Results:
- Vijay Kumar Khemka (BJP): 97,757 votes
- Indu Sinha (Congress): Defeated by 32,154 votes
- 2015 Election Results:
- Vijay Kumar Khemka (BJP): 92,020 votes
- Indu Sinha (Congress): Defeated by 32,815 votes
Historical Background of Purnia Constituency
The Purnia constituency has undergone significant political transformations over the years. Initially a stronghold for the Left, it was represented by CPI(M) leader Ajit Sarkar in 1995. Sarkar narrowly won by defeating SP’s Rajesh Ranjan with a margin of 1,615 votes.
Before Khemka’s tenure, the seat was held by Raj Kishore Keshari of the BJP from the early 2000s, who also enjoyed electoral success. Keshari’s notable victories include:
- 2010: 54,605 votes against Congress’s Ram Charitra Yadav
- 2005: Successful in both elections
- 2000: Initial win marking the BJP’s rise in the constituency
The shift from a Left bastion to a BJP stronghold signifies a major political realignment in Purnia. This trend highlights the growing influence of the BJP within the Seemanchal region, making the upcoming 2025 elections crucial for all candidates involved.
