Banmankhi’s history is steeped in legend, believed to stretch back 18 million years. It is said to be the site where Lord Narasimha, the fourth avatar of Vishnu, appeared to protect his devotee Prahlada and slay the demon king Hiranyakashipu. The Narsingh Bhagwan Temple in Bhawanipur, a few kilometres from Banmankhi town, marks the spot and draws lakhs of devotees during Holi. The Holika Dahan celebration here is among the largest in Bihar, with a massive bonfire lit at the temple complex. Devotees walk barefoot on its ashes the next morning, believing it brings blessings. A unique ritual involves carrying burning torches (mashal) from the main pyre back to their villages, symbolising the triumph of good over evil.
Banmankhi is also known for its now-defunct sugar mill, established in 1967. Once a major source of employment in the region, the mill has remained closed for over three decades. Its land has since been taken over by the Bihar Industrial Area Development Authority (BIADA), though industrial revival remains a distant hope.
The constituency is predominantly rural and agrarian. Located in the fertile plains of eastern Bihar, Banmankhi is nourished by the Kosi river system and its tributaries. Paddy, maize, and wheat are the main crops, with banana cultivation and small-scale fisheries also contributing to the local economy. The area has long grappled with flood-related challenges. The recent years have seen improvements in road connectivity and electrification. Banmankhi, a subdivision-level town, is connected by rail and road to the district headquarters Purnia (30 km), Katihar (56 km), Murliganj (20 km), Bihariganj (26 km), and Madhepura (40 km), making it a local hub for trade and services. The state capital Patna is approximately 315 km away.
Banmankhi has witnessed 15 Assembly elections since its inception. The Congress dominated the early decades, winning six of the first seven elections between 1962 and 1985. Its decline coincided with the BJP’s rise, which has since won seven of the last eight elections between 1990 and 2020. Krishna Kumar Rishi, a senior BJP leader and former minister, has represented the seat five times consecutively since 2005. The Janata Party (1977) and Janata Dal (1995) have also registered solitary wins during transitional phases.
As of the 2020 Assembly elections, Banmankhi had 307,554 registered voters. Scheduled Castes accounted for 18.97 percent (58,343), Scheduled Tribes for 5.86 percent (18,023), and Muslims for around 12.3 percent (37,829). Rural voters made up 93.59 percent of the electorate, while urban voters accounted for just 6.41 percent.
Voter turnout has remained steady: 58.27 percent in 2015, 58.92 percent in 2020, and 61.77 percent in the 2019 parliamentary elections. The number of registered voters rose to 318,665 in the 2024 parliamentary polls. According to the Election Commission, 2,754 voters from the 2020 rolls had migrated out of the constituency by 2024. That election recorded a 56.62 percent polling turnout, the lowest in recent years.
In the 2020 Assembly elections, BJP’s Krishna Kumar Rishi won with 93,594 votes, defeating RJD’s Upendra Sharma, who secured 65,851 votes by a margin of 27,743. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Independent candidate Pappu Yadav led the Banmankhi Assembly segment by a massive margin of 80,709 votes, polling 141,441 votes against JD(U)’s Santosh Kushwaha, who secured 60,732.
As the 2025 Assembly elections approach, the BJP will look to extend its winning streak in a seat that has become one of its strongest bastions in the region.
(Ajay Jha)
