Marhaura Assembly Constituency: Marhaura sub-division of Saran district of Bihar is a living example of how government policies and political decisions can change the industrial future of an area. There was a time when the name of Marhaura was taken from the Morton Chocolate Factory.
Established in 1929 by C & E Morton Limited, this factory was a major center for chocolate, toffee and biscuit manufacturing. Due to this, employment and economic activities in the area were at their peak. Marhaura became a prosperous industrial area due to sugar mills and other small units. But due to government negligence, lack of infrastructure and labor disputes, the factory had to be closed in 1997. Along with this, the industrial luster of Marhaura also faded.
Then in 2007, Lalu Prasad Yadav, while being the Railway Minister, laid the foundation stone of Rail Diesel Engine Factory in Marhaura. However, after the change of government, this plan was shelved. It was later revived by the Central Government and production began in 2018 under a joint venture between Indian Railways and Wabtec Locomotives Pvt. Ltd.
Today more than 700 engines have been manufactured here, out of which 4500 HP engines are being exported to countries like Africa. Their global demand has increased due to their fuel efficiency and ability to withstand heat. This factory has not only provided employment to the local youth but has also created new opportunities for supporting industries.
The geographical position of Marhaura is also favorable for industrial development. It is 26 km from Chapra, 50 km from Siwan and 70 km from Patna. Until industrialization fully flourishes, the fertile land here will remain dependent on agriculture. Not only industries, there is also an ancient medieval fort in Marhaura, which is important from historical and tourist point of view.
Politically, Marhaura Saran is part of the Lok Sabha and has been dominated by the RJD. In the 18 assembly elections held so far, Congress has won six, RJD four, while JDU and BJP have not won any. In the 2020 elections, RJD’s Jitendra Kumar Rai defeated JDU’s Altaf Alam. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, BJP’s Rajiv Pratap Rudy took a slight lead over RJD’s Rohini Acharya in Marhaura, but RJD’s influence in the assembly is still intact.
In the year 2020, a total of 2,67,925 voters were registered in Marhaura assembly constituency. Of these, 30,436 i.e. 11.36% voters were from Scheduled Castes, while 38,313 i.e. 14.30% were Muslim voters. This area is predominantly rural in nature, where 92.31% of the population is from rural areas and only 7.69% of voters are from urban areas. At the same time, by the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the number of voters will increase to 2,85,665.
