Bihar Election 2025 News Live Updates: ‘Voting will continue till 5 pm for the first time in Bihar as state now free of Naxalites,’ says Union Minister Amit Shah

Election fever gripped Bihar on Friday as the filing of nomination papers for the first phase of Assembly polls concluded, with the ruling NDA projecting a resolute campaign in sharp contrast to the disarray seen in the opposition INDIA bloc.

According to the Election Commission, more than 1,250 candidates filed their papers for the 121 seats which go to polls on November 6, and the number was likely to go up as data was still flowing in from districts.

In at least half-a-dozen constituencies, more than one INDIA bloc candidate has filed nomination papers and these seats may end up witnessing "friendly fights" among the constituents unless one of the nominees pulls out by October 20.--PTI

Jharkhand Minister Sudivya Kumar Sonu on Friday said he has informed Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav about the seats the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) is keen to contest in the Bihar Assembly elections.

Speaking to reporters, Sonu said he discussed the issue during a recent meeting in Patna, highlighting the potential advantages the INDIA bloc would gain from JMM's participation, particularly in terms of vote consolidation.

The minister said he had raised these points before the RJD during the INDIA alliance meeting on October 6.

He added that at the same meeting, it was decided that Chief Minister Hemant Soren and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav would discuss the matter between them.

On the November 11 bypolls in Ghatshila, Sonu said the seat has traditionally been a JMM stronghold.--PTI

Social media influencer Manish Kashyap, also known as Tripurari Kumar Tiwari, will contest the Chanpatia assembly seat in Bihar as a Jan Suraaj candidate, the party said on Friday.--PTI

Bihar minister Mangal Pandey has declared moveable and immoveable assets worth over Rs 2.34 crore in his election affidavit, officials said on Friday.

Pandey, a former state BJP president contesting assembly polls for the first time, is contesting from Siwan.--PTI

The Congress on Friday declared former MLA Rishi Mishra, who had quit the party three years ago to join the RJD, as its candidate from Jale constituency in Darbhanga district.

The one-off announcement from the party, which had a day ago released its "first list" of 48 candidates, came on a day when Mishra had filed his nomination papers from the seat, as a Congress candidate, hours before the process came to a close for the first phase in which 121 seats go to polls.

Mishra, a party-hopper who had won Jale seat on JD(U) ticket in a by-election in 2014, comes from a well-known political family of Bihar.--PTI

Bhojpuri actor Khesari Lal Yadav and folk singer Maithili Thakur on Friday filed their nomination papers for the upcoming Bihar assembly polls from Chhapra and Alinagar constituencies, respectively.

While Yadav joined the RJD on Thursday night, Thakur, who turned 25 a few months ago, was inducted into the BJP earlier this week.--PTI

Targeting Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi, Union Minister Amit Shah said the Congress leader "can lead any number of 'save infiltrator yatras', but the BJP won't allow illegal immigrants in country."

Shah also questioned the RJD over the promises made during its campaigns. "RJD is promising government jobs to each family in Bihar, but where will the money come from," he asked.

"Opt for politics of performance, not for parties like the Congress or RJD that promote dynasts," he urged voters.

Union Minister Amit Shah said "voting will continue till 5 pm for the first time in Bihar as the state is now free of Naxalites. Bihar is moving forward to regain its lost glory...the new government's focus will be to bring heavy industries to Bihar, creating large-scale employment opportunities."

"Bihar will become the growth engine of eastern India," Shah said, adding that the state "will lead India in AI revolution, and the new NDA govt will work towards opening data centers in the state.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday took a swipe at the opposition RJD for giving a ticket to late gangster-turned-politician Mohammad Shahabuddin's son, Osama Shahab, asking how it can ensure the security of the people of Bihar if it fields such candidates.

Addressing an election rally in Saran district in the poll-bound state, Shah claimed the NDA will return to power in the state with the biggest majority in 20 years.

"I just saw the list of RJD candidates for the upcoming polls. The name of Shahabuddin's son is on the list. You tell me, if RJD gives a ticket to Shahabuddin's son, how can Bihar remain safe? You people need to remain alert about parties like RJD," he told the rally.

The RJD has fielded Shahab from the Raghunathpur assembly constituency in Siwan, once considered the stronghold of his father, who had been a several-term RJD MP.--PTI

The Election Commission on Friday asked enforcement agencies and security forces to take pro-active and preventive action during the Bihar elections to ensure drugs, liquor and cash are not used to sway voters.

The meeting was held to prepare a comprehensive roadmap to combat the pernicious effects of cash and other inducements in elections, the poll authority said.

The different agencies briefed the commission regarding their preparation, steps taken and proposed to be taken for ensuring inducement free elections.

The briefings were on a wide-range of topics pertaining to curbing the use of money and other inducements to vitiate elections were made, the EC said.

The commission instructed that there should be co-operation and sharing of intelligence of economic offences amongst law enforcement agencies for effective action.--PTI

Addressing a rally in Saran, Bihar, Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched a sharp attack on Lalu's government, accusing him of Jungle Raj.

Shah praised Nitish Kumar's tenure, saying, "Nitish Kumar made Bihar free from 'jungle raj' in last 20 years: Amit Shah at poll rally in Saran."

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who is on a three-day visit to poll-bound Bihar, met Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday.

BJP sources said it was a courtesy meeting between Shah and Kumar, also the JD(U) supremo.

Shah, accompanied by senior BJP leaders, including Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan, and Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, met Kumar at 1 Anne Marg, the official residence of the CM here.

Senior JD(U) leaders, including the party's working national president Sanjay Jha, were also present at the meeting.

Elections to the 243-member assembly will be held in two phases, on November 6 and November 11, while counting of votes will take place on November 14.

Later in the day, Shah is scheduled to address a public meeting in Saran in favour of NDA nominees in Amnaur and Taraiya assembly seats. He will also address a gathering of intellectuals at Gyan Bhawan in Patna, said a BJP leader.

-PTI

List of BJP top leaders who will carry out vigorous campaign-promotion for the candidates for the Bihar Assembly Elections 2025.

Apart from the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe candidates in the reserved constituencies (11 SC and 1 ST), the BJP’s list of 101 shows broad representation across OBC, EBC, and upper caste categories.

There are 13 women, accounting for about 13% of the BJP’s total nominees. Of them, 7 are sitting MLAs, and 1 was also a candidate in 2020. The JD(U) list also includes 13 women, 6 of them are sitting MLAs while 2 have been repeated as candidates.

The BJP appears to have played safe in its Bihar candidate list, dropping 16 sitting MLAs but repeating 55, and fielding most of its key ministers and organisational heavyweights.

The list of 101 contains at least 30 new faces, including public personalities and professionals, as Bihar parties brace for the impact of Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj, with its focus on such candidates.

All the NDA allies have now come out with their entire lists, including 101 each by the BJP and JD(U), despite hiccups till the last minute.

There is no Muslim in the BJP’s list, while the JD(U) has fielded 4, down from 11 in 2020. None of its 11 Muslim candidates had won then, with the lone Muslim the JD(U) fielded in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls also losing.

RLD leader Malook Nagar on Bihar polls and Congress releasing its first list of candidates, said, "Who will be standing in the elections from which Vidhan Sabha is not clear yet. This clearly proves that the so-called India Alliance is still confused and in conflict over finalising candidates, as is the case in other states across the country. It seems there will be conflict in Bihar. Congress is being overconfident, believing they will win the elections and have their own Chief Minister. There has also been an issue between Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav regarding the CM candidate."

Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrives at the Nitish Kumar's house for key huddle.

Shah is on a three-day visit to Bihar ahead of the assembly polls.

Today is the last day to file nomination for the first phase of the Bihar assembly election and the Opposition, Mahagathbandhan, is yet to arrive at a seat-sharing deal, which is causing the delay in the announcement of the candidates’ lists.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma is set to campaign in Bihar today (Friday) for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections.

According to the proposed schedule, the chief minister will embark on a one-day visit to Bihar to boost his party’s (BJP) campaign momentum, addressing a major election rally in Dumra, Sitamarhi.

Welcome to our live blog where we bring you live updates about the upcoming Bihar assembly elections.

Stay tuned!