After Jharkhand, now Rashtriya Janata Dal is eyeing its stronghold Bihar. Reasons why Tejashwi Yadav stayed away from power in Bihar in 2020. Now Rabri Devi has taken the responsibility of eliminating them in her hands. Rabri Devi has given impetus to a separate Mithila state in the election year.
If this arrow of Rabri hits the target, then the equation of Bihar Assembly of 2025 can be completely turned upside down.
What is the demand of Mithila state?
People speaking Maithili language live in the districts of Bihar like Darbhanga, Madhubani, Sitamarhi, Samastipur, bordering North Bihar and Nepal. For the first time in 1912, a demand was raised to make Mithila a separate state. The agitating people said that they had their own separate province in Treta. King Janak was the king of Videha i.e. Mithila. However, during his time Nepal was also a part of Mithila.
In the year 2000, when Jharkhand was separated from Bihar, the movement for Mithila state also gained momentum. At that time, to calm the movement, Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s government included Maithili language in the 8th Schedule.
However, despite this, the demand for a separate state has been rising in these areas for a long time. At present many organizations are running different types of movements regarding this.
Maithil in the role of kingmaker in Bihar
Even though no leader from Mithila has been able to reach the pinnacle of power in Bihar for the last 34 years, power in Bihar goes through Mithila only. There are two main reasons for this-
1. There are about 40 assembly seats and 5 Lok Sabha seats in 4 districts of Mithilanchal. In Bihar, which has 243 assembly seats, 122 MLAs are required to form the government. This is the reason why these 40 seats of Mithilanchal region are considered very important.
2. Demography of Mithilanchal is also a reason. Compared to other areas of Bihar, there is no dominance of any one caste here. In Mithilanchal, along with Brahmins, Muslims, Yadavs and Kushwaha, the population of Dalit community is also almost equal. Apart from this, Nishad, Bania and other small castes are also quite vocal.
The game was done with Tejashwi in 2020
In the 2020 elections, there was a game in Mithilanchal with Tejashwi Yadav, who had gained lead in Shahabad, Tirhut and Magadh areas. Out of about 40 seats in Mithilanchal, the Grand Alliance had won only 10 seats.
Veteran RJD leaders like Abdul Bari Siddiqui, Bhola Yadav, Sitaram Yadav could not win the elections here. Similarly, many Congress leaders also lost the elections here due to being in the grand alliance.
Due to poor strike rate in Mithilanchal, Tejashwi Yadav could not reach the CM’s chair. In the 2020 Bihar Assembly elections, the Grand Alliance won 110 seats and the NDA won 126 seats.
NDA busy in strengthening the fort
RJD was expected to make a strong comeback in Mithilanchal region in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, but the party lost all the Lok Sabha seats here. NDA alliance has won all the 5 seats of Mithilanchal. NDA is now busy in strengthening this stronghold.
Recently the Central Government has laid the foundation stone of AIIMS in Darbhanga. Darbhanga is also called the power center of Mithila. Besides, the Central Government has also published the Constitution of India in Maithili language.
BJP is promoting its work in Mithilanchal among the Maithils with slogans like Jug-Jug Jibu Modi Ji (Long live Modiji for ages).
Rabri took command of RJD
NDA alliance is strengthening its stronghold in Mithila. Now Rabri Devi has taken command from RJD side. The way Rabri is seriously demanding Mithila state. Due to this, NDA may have to prepare its strategy afresh.
Recently, Tejashwi Yadav had announced the formation of Mithila Development Board for the development of Mithila region, but this appeal of Tejashwi did not prove to be very effective. In such a situation, it is being said that as per the decided strategy, Rabri Devi has raised the issue of Mithila state.