From the littered lanes of Darbhanga to the crowded streets of Dadar, a firm sentiment is taking shape among Biharis who left their villages to chase dreams in Mumbai. No longer seeking sympathy, they now demand real change in their home state, a shift from survival to progress, from promises to performance.

As Bihar heads toward the 2025 Assembly Elections starting November 6, thousands of Biharis living and working in Mumbai say they still harbour hopes for a better homeland — one that guarantees opportunity, dignity, and jobs within its borders so future generations do not have to migrate for a secure life and future.

Despite a post-pandemic decline in migration from Bihar to Mumbai for jobs and gig work, those from Bihar still worry about employment, improved infrastructure, and, most importantly, a stronger education system in their home state.