What’s inside:
Bihar is seeing a rush of migrant workers returning home ahead of the assembly elections, impacting voter turnout.
Bihar is getting ready for its Assembly elections on November 6 and 11. As the election dates are getting closer, many migrant workers are flocking to railway stations to head back to their jobs after the Chhath Puja celebrations. This year, the situation is a bit different as the rush of workers is noticeably high.
Trains from major cities like Patna, Muzaffarpur, and Gaya to places like Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai are fully booked until mid-November. Many laborers are anxious to return to work because their companies offered only a short leave for the festival, and they risk losing their jobs if they don’t return on time.
Many migrant workers express that while they want to vote, they also need to earn a living. One worker at Patna Junction pointed out that if jobs were available in Bihar, they wouldn’t need to travel to places like Punjab for work. This highlights the ongoing employment crisis in the state, which is affecting the upcoming elections.
Reports show that around 55% of people leaving Bihar are in search of jobs. During this time, more than 100 trains are running daily to accommodate the heavy rush of passengers, with some trains showing occupancy rates as high as 150%. This indicates a significant migration of workers just days before the voting period.
Political parties are concerned about the potential low voter turnout due to this migration. They are making efforts to connect with families of migrant workers through social media and phone calls. Some are also informing voters about options like postal ballots to ensure that everyone has a chance to vote, despite being away from home.
Summary:
- Migrant workers are rushing back home for jobs after Chhath Puja.
- Train services are fully booked as many leave for cities like Delhi and Mumbai.
- Workers express concern about balancing voting and job security.
- High occupancy in trains indicates significant migration ahead of elections.
- Political parties are trying to engage with absent voters to boost turnout.
