Bihar Assembly Election 2025: The nomination process for the Bihar Assembly elections-2025 has ended. There are 1,314 candidates running for the first phase of voting. Voting will take place for 121 seats on November 6th and for 122 seats on November 11th. The final list of candidates for the second phase will be available by October 23rd.
The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) is competing for the maximum seats, but there are tensions with the Congress and Left parties over sharing seats. The Congress party won only 19 seats last time although they contested on 66 seats. This time they are contesting on 61 seats. The CPI(ML) has increased its seats from 12 to 20.
Alliance partners running against each other
In Bihar, there is a disagreement among the RJD, Congress, and Left parties, causing them to run against each other.
The Communist Party of India (CPI) has put forward candidates in Rosera, Rajapakar, and Bihar Sharif against Congress.
In Rajgir, the CPI (ML) has chosen a candidate to compete with Congress.
In the Bachhwara area of Begusarai, Congress has a candidate running against the CPI's candidate.
The RJD is also contesting against Congress in Vaishali and Lalganj.
The Indian Inclusive Party (IIP) has filed nominations in Saharsa and Jamalpur. The RJD has included IIP as a partner in the Grand Alliance, but IIP reportedly refused this offer.
The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha is also unhappy with the Grand Alliance and has decided to run its candidates separately.
VIP, RJD candidated face-to-face on 2 seats
The Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP), which was part of the NDA last time, is with the INDIA alliance this time. Of the 15 seats for which the VIP has announced its candidates, two are also for which the RJD has fielded candidates.
Internal rebellion evident
By the last day of the second phase, divisions within the INDIA alliance, resentment over ticket distribution and internal rebellion were evident. The RJD, for the first time, released a list of 143 candidates seven hours before the nomination deadline. Prior to this, its candidates continued to file nominations.
254 candidates have been fielded for 243 seats
254 candidates have been fielded for 243 seats. This is due to the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP). The RJD has fielded 143 candidates, followed by the Congress 61, the CPI(M) 20, the CPI 9, the CPM 6, and Mukesh Sahni's party 15. This brings the total to 254. Twelve candidates have been fielded against each other.
For the first time in the Bihar elections, the NDA and the Grand Alliance (Mahagathbandhan) did not hold a joint press conference regarding ticket distribution. All parties continued releasing nomination lists until the last minute. The NDA and Grand Alliance are locked in a tussle over the CM face. For the first time, neither side has revealed a CM face. JDU and BJP's seat tally declined, benefiting Chirag Paswan.
Prakash Kumar Pandey