NEW DELHI: The competition for Bihar’s 2025 Assembly elections escalated on Wednesday as significant developments unfolded across various political parties. This includes the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) releasing its new candidate list, Prashant Kishor announcing his withdrawal from the election race, and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav filing his nomination papers for his family’s traditional constituency in Raghopur.
While the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partners have nearly completed their candidate selection, discussions over seat-sharing within the opposition INDIA bloc continue. With the initial phase of polling approaching, political activity in Bihar is intensifying.
Kishor Withdraws: ‘Need to Build Jan Suraaj’
Prashant Kishor confirmed he will not vie in the upcoming assembly elections, stating that his choice was made for the “greater good” of his party, Jan Suraaj. In comments made to PTI, he explained, “If I were to contest, it would distract me from necessary organisational work.” Kishor’s party intends to field Chanchal Singh against Tejashwi Yadav in Raghopur.
Despite stepping aside, Kishor expressed confidence in Jan Suraaj’s prospects, saying, “We will either win handsomely or face a complete drubbing. There’s no middle ground.” He set a personal target of securing at least 150 seats, dubbing anything less a defeat.
In response, the RJD claimed Kishor had “accepted defeat for his Jan Suraaj Party even before going to the battlefield,” while the BJP suggested he acknowledged the unlikelihood of winning. JD(U) labeled his decision a “humiliation for his party workers.” The BJP’s Giriraj Singh derided Kishor’s ambitious targets as “Mungerilal ke haseen sapne,” labeling Jan Suraaj as a potential “vote katwa” or a subsidiary of RJD.
JD(U) Releases First List—Focus on New Faces
The Janata Dal (United) (JD-U) announced its first list of 57 candidates, featuring 30 newcomers alongside 27 sitting MLAs. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s party aims to target crucial constituencies, including seats requested by Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), indicating a direct challenge.
The candidate list is designed to reflect diverse caste representation, covering OBCs, Scheduled Castes, Extremely Backward Castes, and upper castes, to maintain its social justice appeal. Notably, there are no Muslim candidates included, marking a deviation from previous elections that could affect JD(U)’s support within Muslim demographics.
BJP Releases Second List with Notable Candidates
On Wednesday, the BJP issued its second list of 12 candidates, bringing its total to 83 out of 101 seats allocated under the NDA’s seat-sharing agreement. Featured candidates include popular folk singer Maithili Thakur from Alinagar in Darbhanga and former IPS officer Anand Mishra, fielded from Buxar.
The list comprises key political figures such as deputy chief ministers Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Sinha, as well as former Deputy CMs Renu Devi and Tarkishore Prasad. Former Assembly Speaker Nand Kishore Yadav was denied a ticket from Patna Sahib, replaced by Ratnesh Kushwaha, while veteran MLA Arun Kumar Sinha was replaced by Sanjay Gupta from Kumrahar. Additionally, nine women candidates are included in this list.
Tejashwi Yadav Files Nomination from Raghopur
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav filed his nomination papers from Raghopur, the family’s traditional seat, accompanied by his parents, RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and former Chief Minister Rabri Devi. During a rally, Tejashwi affirmed that he would only contest from this single seat, addressing rumors of fighting multiple seats. He stated, “The voters of Raghopur have reposed their trust in me twice,” emphasizing a broader appeal by asking voters to consider their ballots as votes for Tejashwi across all 243 constituencies.
Yadav promised to revamp governance in Bihar, framing the elections as a pathway to not only changing the government but also transforming the state. His party has vowed to implement a Job Guarantee Act to ensure one government job per household if elected.
As the RJD convoy moved towards the collectorate, thousands of supporters lined the route from Patna to Hajipur, showering the Yadav family’s vehicle with flower petals. Lalu Prasad, in a wheelchair, supported his son’s nomination effort.
