BETTIAH, Nov. 10 -- Set to vote in the Assembly elections, migrant workers from different age groups who overstayed in their respective constituencies after Chhath puja have described themselves as the "NRIs of Bihar" and hope the next state government would tap their potential for future. Hindustan Times spoke to a posse of migrant labourers, many of them in their 30s and 40s, who have either never exercised their franchise or voted long back or skipped the same due to their near permanent abode outside the state for decades now. Migrant workers Hridyanand Patel, Vijay Kumar, Surendra Patel, Ranjit Patel and Birendra Parit -- residents of West Champaran and East Champaran districts -- have overstayed after their visit to Bihar during Chhath puja, while migrant worker Satan Ram is on his way back to his native village from Andhra Pradesh to exercise his franchise. "We are, in a sense, the NRIs of Bihar who are destined to live outside the state and as a result have missed our right to vote. Yes, I have exercised my franchise in mukhiyayi election (reads panchayat poll)," said Ranjit Patel, a resident of Nautan block who works in Ludhiana (Punjab) and runs embroidery machines. Migrant worker Hridyanand Patel who hails from Ranaha Sujurpur village in West Champaran's Nautan block along with some other migrant worker has decided to vote lock, stock and barrel for change in bewastha (system). "Nitish Kumar is good and so are Tejashwi Yadav and Prashant Kishor when it comes to making promises for providing works locally... Nonetheless, we had to stay away from our family in search of livelihood," said Patel, keeping his cards close to his chest. "It's true, our family members have voted guided by emotional at the cross-purposes of other groups so far and certainly not on the basis of core issues which have been plaguing us at distant lands," said Birendra Parit of Purania in Chanpatia block who has returned from Saudi Arabia where he worked in a factory. However, 35-year-old Surendra Patel, a resident of Sagauli, disapprove a change. "Who knows who will come in power? At least we have a sense of security for our family during our stay away from Bihar," he said, giving a vent to his feelings. However, there are some who feel offended by the words at their workplace. "Who likes to stay outside and withstand uncharitable words for your state's state of affairs. There are leaders who speaks well and their concern for common people like us looks genuine. He does not fly in chopper but stay rooted to grassroots," said Satan Ram, 46, a migrant worker, who has timed his return from Kavali, located in the Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh to his native village Belbanwa near Bairiya in West Champaran. At Chanpatia-based startup, migrant workers, engaged in these units here, a majority of them are excited at the thought of voting this time. Engaged in textile and apparel embroidery work here, Anand Kushwaha, (34), Jitendra Kumar, (45), Omprakash Patel, Archana Kushwaha, Ramesh Mahato and Band Kishore Mahato, all residents of West Champaran district, who have spent a decade outside state are elated at the thought of exercising their franchise....