Samastipur has experienced a significant development in the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections. JDU leader Ashwamedh Devi has emerged as the first female MLA from the constituency, breaking a longstanding trend and providing women with their first direct representation in the Assembly from this area. Her victory is regarded as an emotional and prideful moment for many locals, particularly women who have been advocating for enhanced political engagement. The election in Samastipur garnered statewide attention as RJD’s Akhtarul Islam Shaheen had previously won this seat three consecutive times. Many anticipated his fourth consecutive win. However, Ashwamedh Devi reversed expectations by defeating him by a notable margin of 13,875 votes.
The final results showed Ashwamedh Devi receiving 95,728 votes, while Shaheen garnered 81,853. This outcome indicates a significant shift in voter sentiment and a strong demand for political transformation. The constituency also saw participation from various other candidates. Independent Chetna Jhamb received 6,193 votes, while Manoj Kumar Singh of the Jan Suraj Party obtained 4,938. Rajan Kumar of the Aam Aadmi Party received 1,715 votes, with candidates from BSP, Plurals Party, Socialist Unity Centre of India, and others contributing to a varied electoral landscape. Notably, 4,527 voters chose NOTA, reflecting discontent among a segment of the electorate. Counting trends showed Ashwamedh Devi’s robust performance from the outset, as she secured 5,288 votes against Shaheen’s 2,255 in the first round.
Her lead continued to grow steadily, reaching 18,087 votes by the eighth round. Following the receipt of her election certificate from the Returning Officer, speculation is increasing regarding her potential appointment to a significant position within the state government due to the importance of her victory.
