Bihar Election 2025: Congress announces second list of candidates as Mahagathbandhan finalize seat sharing

Congress on Saturday released its second list of candidates for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, announcing names for five constituencies – Narkatiaganj, Kishanganj, Kasba, Purnia and Gaya Town.

Read all about the announcement HERE

Former Rajya Sabha MP Sabir Ali, who was expelled from the JD(U) 11 years ago for praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was on Saturday named the party's candidate from Amour assembly seat in Bihar.

The Nitish Kumar-led party made the sudden announcement through a statement, dropping Saba Zafar, the runner-up in the 2020 assembly polls, who was named the candidate for the seat two days ago.--PTI

The JMM on Saturday announced that it will contest the Bihar assembly polls independently, and said the party would “review” its alliance with the Congress and RJD in Jharkhand after the elections in the neighbouring state.

Addressing a press conference, JMM general secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya said the party will field candidates in six seats in Bihar.

Elections to 243 seats of the Bihar assembly will be held on November 6 and November 11, and the votes will be counted on November 14.

“The party has decided to contest the Bihar polls on its own. It will contest six assembly seats – Chakai, Dhamdaha, Katoria (ST), Manihari (ST), Jamui and Pirpainti (SC),” Bhattacharya said.

These seats will go to polls in the second phase on November 11.--PTI

The Jharkhand Police on Saturday reviewed security arrangements in districts bordering poll-bound Bihar and asked officers concerned to intensify operations against Maoists and criminal gangs, according to a statement.

IG (Operations) and state police nodal officer Michael Raj S held a review meeting with the superintendents of police (SPs) of Hazaribag, Garhwa, Chatra, Giridih, Godda, Palamu, Koderma, Deoghar, Sahibganj, and Dumka districts via video conference, it said.--PTI

With less than two weeks to go for the Bihar assembly polls, Janata Dal (United) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha on Saturday said that the ruling party had demanded that the assembly polls be held in one phase, citing an improvement in the law and order situation.

Speaking to new agency ANI in Patna, Jha said, "Earlier, elections were held in six phases and used to go on for two months... Now, even Naxalism has ended over here, and the law and order situation is so good that our party had demanded only one phase." He also alleged that industrials and children were kidnapped earlier, in an apparent swipe at the previous RJD government.

'"Earlier, children were kidnapped from schools. Doctors and industrialists were kidnapped, and calls were made from the houses of politicians in Patna for ransom," JD(U) MP added.--ANI

RJD leader Mritunjay Tiwari Saturday said that  Mahagathbandhan has finalised its seat sharing and any confusion regarding any seats will be solved and announced soon.

On Bihar elections, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Saini expressed confidence in NDA winning the assembly polls.

"Bihar is moving forward under the leadership of PM Modi and Nitish Kumar. Bihar will again elect the NDA government."

Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party chief, Pashupati Kumar Paras Saturday said that the party will contest elections alone as Mahagathbandhan alliance talks failed.

"We made significant efforts to form an alliance with the Mahagathbandhan, but the alliance did not materialise...We have decided that we will contest the elections alone...I am hopeful that in the first phase of the elections, we will win a good number of seats…"

Congress MP Jairam Ramesh Saturday said that this election will be the end of BJP and Nitish Kumar.

"Bihar will bid farewell to Nitish Kumar and the BJP. You will see that the Mahagathbandhan is going to win a clear majority. People at the grassroots are fed up... The people of Bihar know that voting for Nitish Kumar is better than voting for the BJP. Nitish Kumar is a remote-controlled Chief Minister..."

CPI(ML) Liberation has released a list of 20 candidates for the 2025 Bihar assembly elections. The list mentions all its 12 sitting MLAs.

Union Minister and LJP-RV chief Chirag Paswan has pointed out that PM Modi's visit to Bihar 11 times in the last one year after forming the government shows "his priority is towards Bihar". He has also said that he met Amit Shah to discuss the NDA's strategy to win seats. "There are head-to-head clashes going on Mahagathbandhan. Candidates have filed nominations against the candidates of their own alliance," Paswan said.

The Om Prakash Rajbhar-led Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party (SBSP) has released another list of six candidates for the Bihar Assembly election. Vashistha Paswan from Ramnagar, Ghurelal Rajbhar from Ramgarh, Ram Vakil Rajvanshi from Karakat, Ravindra Rajbhar from Wazirganj, Rajesh Rajwar from Raniganj and Radheshyam Rajwar from Kutumba have been named on the list.

An NDA partner in UP, SBSP has decide to go solo in Bihar after failing to crack a seat-sharing deal with the BJP.

Pointing to the lack of consensus on a seat-sharing agreement in the Mahagathbandhan, LJP(Ram Vilas) MP Shambhavi Choudhary has said that the NDA can easily win 225 seats.

"Mahagathbandhan seems to be stuck in a quagmire...This simply shows that a party that can't sort out issues within its own alliance, how it will raise Bihar's issues... So, there's no doubt that the NDA will form a strong government... Everyone may have their own personal aspirations. We dealt with it in time, and today we stand before the opposition as a strong front for Bihar..."

In an interview with ANI, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairperson Harivansh Narayan spoke about Nitish Kumar's 20 year tenure.

"If we compare the vision of all the new people you see today, Nitish Kumar cannot be matched by anyone... No man can remain spotless in power for 20 years... Isn't it a matter of surprise for the entire country what Nitish's personal image is like... As far as health is concerned, whatever Nitish Kumar says even today seems decent..."

On Nitish continuing as chief minister, Dy Chairperson said, " The leaders of the alliance will decide this... From his health to his activism and vision, he will be given the responsibility he deserves."

The Congress, which unilaterally released a list of 48, has handed tickets in another five constituencies – Kahalgaon (Praveen Kushwaha), Pranpur (Touqir Alam), Jale (Rishi Mishra), Chainpur (Achala Singh) and Gaya Town (Mohan Srivastava).

The RJD, however, is not willing to give up its claim to the Kahalgaon seat though it has been a traditional Congress seat.

Reflecting the confusion and the tussle within, the Opposition Mahagathbandhan in Bihar failed to announce a seat-sharing pact Friday as nominations closed for the first of the two-phase Assembly elections in the state.

Partners of the alliance filed nomination papers for all 121 seats going to polls in the first phase – the total strength of the Bihar House is 243 – while talks continued to end the deadlock over seats. The last date for filing nominations for the remaining 122 seats in the second phase is Monday.

The Mahagathbandhan, comprising the RJD, Congress, CPI (ML-L), CPI (M), CPI and Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP), still has to resolve the fight for seats in over a dozen constituencies.

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.

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