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Imamganj Assembly Seat is one of the most talked-about and important seats in Bihar politics. This constituency is located in Gaya district and is reserved for the Scheduled Caste (SC) category. The political history of this seat has been quite remarkable, where several veteran leaders have held power. However, in the last decade, it is the Manjhi family that has established a strong dominance.
Strong Hold of Manjhi Family
In both 2015 and 2020, former Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi secured victory from the Imamganj Assembly Seat. Then, in 2024, after he was elected as Member of Parliament from Gaya, a by-election was held in the Imamganj constituency. His daughter-in-law, Deepa Manjhi, contested from the HAM Party and emerged victorious, completing a hat-trick for the Manjhi family.
Political Picture of Gaya District
Gaya district is one of Bihar’s 38 districts and includes 10 assembly constituencies:
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Imamganj (SC)
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Bodh Gaya (SC)
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Sherghati
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Barachatti (SC)
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Tikari
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Belaganj
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Atri
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Gaya Town
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Wazirganj
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Garua
The Imamganj Assembly Seat was formed in 1957, and since its inception, this seat has seen numerous political twists and turns.
Historical Journey of Imamganj Assembly Seat
1957 - 1962: Ambika Prasad Singh’s Two Consecutive Wins
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1957: As an Independent candidate, Ambika Prasad Singh defeated Congress's Chandravati Devi.
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1962: Representing the Swatantra Party, Ambika defeated Congress’s Jaglal Mahto.
1967 - 1972: Battle Between Congress and Socialist Forces
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1967: Devdhar Ram of Congress claimed victory.
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1969: Ishwar Das from Samyukta Socialist Party won the seat.
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1972: Congress made a comeback through Avdheshwar Ram.
1977 - 1985: Rivalry Between Ishwar Das and Shrichandra Singh
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1977: Ishwar Das defeated the Congress candidate.
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1980 & 1985: Shrichandra Singh of Congress won back-to-back elections.
1990 - 2000: Janata Dal and Samata Party Phase
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1990: Uday Narayan from Janata Dal won the seat.
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1995: Ram Swaroop Paswan claimed victory with just 120 votes margin.
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2000: Uday Narayan made a strong comeback, defeating the Samata Party.
2005 to 2010: Uday Narayan Choudhary’s Dominance
In 2005, elections were held twice—in February and October. On both occasions, JDU’s Uday Narayan Choudhary emerged victorious from Imamganj:
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February 2005: Won by 1,271 votes
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October 2005: Won by 6,642 votes
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2010: Defeated RJD's Roshan Kumar by 1,211 votes
Notably, Uday Narayan also served as the Speaker of the Bihar Legislative Assembly from 2005 to 2015.
2015 and 2020: Rise of Jitan Ram Manjhi
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2015: Jitan Ram Manjhi, contesting on a HAM Party ticket, defeated JDU's Uday Narayan with a massive margin of 29,408 votes.
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2020: He secured another victory, this time defeating RJD's Uday Narayan by 16,034 votes.
2024 By-election: Deepa Manjhi’s Win
When Jitan Ram Manjhi became an MP in 2024, the Imamganj Assembly Seat became vacant. In the by-election, his daughter-in-law, Deepa Manjhi, contested on behalf of the HAM Party and won:
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Deepa Manjhi: 53,435 votes
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RJD’s Roshan Kumar: 47,490 votes
Imamganj Assembly Seat: Political Conclusion
The Imamganj seat has seen power shifts between Congress, Janata Dal, Samata Party, and now the HAM Party.
In recent years, the Manjhi family has shown consistent political strength, winning the last three elections.
Caste dynamics, development issues, and local factors make Imamganj a key political battleground in Bihar.
Conclusion
The political journey of the Imamganj Assembly Seat reveals that voters here value both change and experienced leadership. The hat-trick win by the Manjhi family, followed by Deepa Manjhi’s recent success, signals that Imamganj may once again emerge as a focal point in Bihar’s political landscape in the near future.