Patna: The biennial election for the Kosi graduates’ constituency of the Bihar Legislative Council, scheduled for Oct 23, has emerged as a crucial test for the BJP, which has held the seat for two consecutive terms.Spread across 14 districts in four administrative divisions of eastern Bihar, Kosi is the largest graduates’ constituency in the state. It has 1,34,072 registered graduate electors who will vote at 181 polling stations. The constituency is considered significant as it represents educated professionals, youth and academicians in the upper house of Bihar’s bicameral legislature.With campaigning gaining momentum, the contest has turned into a triangular battle. The main contenders are sitting MLC N K Yadav of the BJP, Nitesh Kumar of the RJD and Rajnish Ranjan of Jan Suraaj. Congress candidate Manoj Kumar Jaiswal could emerge as a spoiler for the RJD if he manages to cut into backward-class votes. There are 15 candidates in fray.Yadav, a well-known gynaecologist and obstetrician based in Bhagalpur, has represented the Kosi graduates’ constituency since 2014. He defeated his rivals in the last two elections, while RJD’s Nitesh Kumar finished runner-up in the 2020 contest. Political analysts see Yadav as the frontrunner for a third consecutive victory, but say the entry of Jan Suraaj has made the contest more competitive and less predictable.Analysts said Yadav’s long presence in the constituency has helped him build strong networks across all 14 districts. His professional background and clean image among educated voters are also seen as advantages. As the BJP nominee, he is backed by the campaign machinery of the ruling NDA, including the JD(U). His campaign launch in Purnia was attended by senior state ministers, signalling united NDA support.However, Jan Suraaj, led by Prashant Kishor, has sought to attract graduate voters by focusing on education reforms and unemployment. Its candidate Rajnish Ranjan is being viewed as a potential disruptor, particularly among young voters.The opposition vote also appears divided, with the RJD and Congress fielding separate candidates. Analysts believe this split within the Mahagathbandhan may benefit Yadav by weakening the anti-incumbency vote.
