Samastipur, Bihar: On the final day of campaigning ahead of the first phase of Bihar’s assembly elections, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath delivered a rousing speech in Mohiuddinnagar, a block in Samastipur district, promising that if the NDA is voted back into power, Mohiuddinnagar would be renamed Mohan Nagar. The statement, made on Tuesday, reflects the BJP’s ongoing focus on reshaping the cultural and historical narratives of the state by advocating for renaming places with roots in Bihar’s Indo-Islamic heritage.

Addressing a massive gathering of party workers and supporters, Yogi said, “Brothers and sisters, I urge you to move forward in the direction of renaming Mohiuddinnagar as Mohan Nagar. It is possible. Let go of all signs of slavery.” He drew parallels to Uttar Pradesh, highlighting the renaming of Faizabad as Ayodhya and Allahabad as Prayagraj, framing such initiatives as a restoration of cultural heritage and an assertion of self-respect.

Yogi, who is also the head priest of the Gorakshdham shrine in Gorakhpur, emphasized that resolute leadership could transform society through both development and preservation of tradition. “When resolute leaders take over, they act as per their convictions. Be it in generating employment for the youth or preserving cultural heritage,” he asserted. His rhetoric combined cultural nationalism with promises of governance and development, a hallmark of BJP campaigning strategy in recent years.

The Mohiuddinnagar constituency is witnessing a closely contested race. The BJP has fielded sitting MLA Rajesh Kumar Singh, who is facing a formidable challenge from Ejya Yadav of the RJD, a former legislator who had won the seat in 2015 but lost it in the subsequent elections. By making the renaming of the constituency a campaign promise, the BJP is signaling an attempt to appeal to cultural and religious sentiments, reinforcing the party’s broader narrative of emphasizing Hindu identity and heritage in electoral politics.

This is not an isolated incident. BJP leaders in Bihar have, for some time, been advocating for the renaming of places associated with the state’s Indo-Islamic composite culture. Such demands are part of a wider agenda pursued by the party across northern India, aiming to replace historical names associated with Muslim rulers with names reflecting Hindu mythology, local heroes, or cultural icons. In Uttar Pradesh, the renaming of cities such as Allahabad to Prayagraj and Faizabad to Ayodhya has been touted as a restoration of historical and cultural identity, and similar strategies are now being promoted in Bihar.

However, these proposals have not been without controversy. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who is also the president of JD(U), has expressed strong disapproval of such renaming drives. Several months ago, BJP leaders suggested renaming Bakhtiyarpur, Nitish Kumar’s birthplace near Patna, as Nitish Nagar, a move the chief minister publicly rejected. Critics argue that renaming towns and cities rooted in centuries of history and cultural integration risks communal polarization and may overshadow more pressing development issues, such as employment, infrastructure, and education.

Yogi Adityanath’s remarks in Mohiuddinnagar thus represent a continuation of the BJP’s dual strategy of combining governance promises with cultural and identity-based messaging. By connecting the renaming agenda to themes of “freedom from slavery” and reclaiming heritage, Adityanath sought to galvanize supporters, particularly among voters who resonate with the party’s broader Hindutva ideology. The rhetoric also aligns with the party’s efforts to consolidate Hindu votes in Bihar, which is politically significant in a state where caste, religion, and community identity often play decisive roles in electoral outcomes.

Observers note that this strategy, while controversial, has proven effective in previous elections. By tying local issues like constituency renaming to broader national narratives, the BJP aims to mobilize voters emotionally and ideologically, framing the election as a contest not only of governance but also of cultural restoration. Mohiuddinnagar, a constituency with historical links to the Indo-Islamic period, is now at the center of this symbolic campaign.

In addition to the renaming announcement, Yogi’s campaign tour included promises of youth employment, infrastructure development, and improved governance, underlining the party’s emphasis on blending cultural nationalism with development-oriented messaging. The BJP leadership hopes that such a combination will appeal to both aspirational voters seeking economic opportunities and those motivated by cultural and religious identity.

Political analysts point out that these statements could have multiple implications for the Bihar assembly elections. On one hand, they are likely to energize the BJP’s core voter base, reinforcing party loyalty among committed supporters. On the other hand, they may provoke criticism from opposition parties and secular-minded citizens, who could see the move as an attempt to politicize history and communalize the electoral discourse.

The Mohiuddinnagar rally also highlighted the broader electoral dynamics in Bihar, where issues such as migration, law and order, caste representation, and cultural identity intertwine with development concerns. By making renaming a central issue, Yogi and the BJP are attempting to frame the election in symbolic terms, while simultaneously promoting the party’s vision for governance and development.

As the first phase of polling approaches, the focus in constituencies like Mohiuddinnagar will likely remain on both development promises and cultural signaling. The BJP’s campaign, exemplified by Yogi Adityanath’s remarks, reflects a calculated effort to leverage identity politics, historical symbolism, and strong leadership narratives to consolidate voter support in the competitive electoral landscape of Bihar.