Since then, the Congress has yet to secure victory in these seats.
In the last three Lok Sabha elections since 2009, the BJP has emerged victorious in Patna Sahib three times, while in Patliputra, the party has succeeded only twice, in 2014 and 2019.
In the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, Prof. Ranjan Yadav, who was the Janata Dal United (JD(U)) candidate, defeated Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) convenor, Lalu Prasad Yadav.
In 2009, the BJP fielded Shatrughan Sinha, an actor-turned-politician, from this seat, while the Congress gave the ticket to actor Shekhar Suman. However, Sinha emerged victorious.
In 2014, Sinha once again secured the seat after defeating Congress candidate and actor Kunal Singh.
Sinha, who later left the BJP to join Congress, aimed to replicate his consecutive victories in 2009 and 2014 with Congress. However, he failed to do so in 2019, losing to BJP’s Ravi Shankar Prasad, a cabinet minister and lawyer by profession.
High-profile Campaigning
In the current Lok Sabha elections, prominent BJP leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath extensively campaigned for Prasad.
On the other hand, Congress has nominated Anshul Avijit, grandson of former Deputy PM Babu Jagjivan Ram and son of former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar.
Issues
Damaged roads, inadequate drainage systems, and waterlogging during rains continue to be significant issues affecting the progress of Patna Sahib and Fatuha areas.
Patna Sahib boasts numerous nationally and state-protected heritage sites, but encroachments continue to plague the region.
However, voters are keen for candidates to address these pressing concerns.
"Unemployment is currently the foremost issue. The youth need assurance of job opportunities. The current government has not made significant progress in this area," remarked Birendra Jha, a student from Patna Sahib.
Additionally, the demand for Central University status for Patna University has remained unresolved for many years, he added.
Riya Sinha, a casual worker in a corporate house, highlighted that inflation should be a key focus in this election.
"The rising prices of everyday goods, from groceries to skincare items, must be addressed," she emphasized.
Rakesh Kapoor from Patna Zila Sudhar Samiti pointed out the lack of a proper drainage system in Patna Sahib.
"The situation worsens when drainage pipes are damaged, causing water to leak out," he explained.
Pintu Kumar, a local from Fatuha, a part of the Patna Sahib constituency, stated that people have decided to boycott the polls this time.
"They have decided to boycott the elections this time," he asserted.
He added that the MP of this constituency was never available to address their concerns.
CP Sinha, a heritage enthusiast, emphasized the urgent need for repairs to some of the heritage sites.
"Some of the surviving heritage sites are in a dire state. However, the loss of monuments and sites has never been a concern for any political leader. It has never been a part of their manifesto," he lamented.
