Siwan, a district that borders Uttar Pradesh, is relatively developed and prosperous compared to the neighbouring high profile constituency of Saran, which is represented by Lalu Yadav in the Lok Sabha.
While Saran is woefully under-developed, Siwan has better roads, work on a flyover is in progress, a mall -- its first -- was started a few years ago, credit for which is quickly attributed to the imprisoned RJD MP by his supporters.
A large labour force that works in the Gulf has also contributed to the town's economy, evident in the number of banks, and travel agencies advertising airlines from the Gulf.
"If you go into the villages, you will see many rural projects that have been started by the UPA government at the Centre," says Suresh Kumar Mishra, a former Congress MLA.
"There was a time the people of Siwan voted because of fear. That has since changed and law and order has improved. The concerns of booth capturing have also reduced," he says sitting with a bunch of party functionaries on the terrace of the Congress office, which was established before Independence and was registered in the name of Dr Rajendra Prasad, later India's first President.
Image: Preparations are made for Sanjay Dutt's rally in Siwan's stadium.
Also see: Mayawati's jalwa in Laloo land | India Votes 2009
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