Janata Dal (United) led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday announced its first list of 57 candidates for the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections. The list has been released amid growing tensions within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) over seat-sharing arrangements, particularly with Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas).
The party has named contenders for four seats earlier claimed by Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), signaling JD(U)’s intent to assert its influence within the NDA and creating a major point of contention between the two allies.
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Janata Dal United (JDU) releases the first list of candidates for the Bihar Assembly Elections. pic.twitter.com/Zb2G7PZvv0 — ANI (@ANI) October 15, 2025
Five Ministers in the Fray
The list features five ministers from the current government. Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary will contest from Sarai Ranjan, while Rural Development Minister Shravan Kumar has been fielded from Nalanda. Other ministers include Sunil Kumar from Bhore (SC), Kaushal Kishore from Rajgir, and Maheshwar Hazari from Kalyanpur.
Three Bahubalis Get Tickets
Among the controversial inclusions, Anant Singh has been fielded from Mokama, a constituency that has drawn significant political attention in recent months. The list also includes other candidates with strong local influence, making the selection a politically charged decision.
Notable Candidates Across Constituencies
Other key candidates include state party president Umesh Khushwaha from Mahanar, Narendra Narayan Yadav from Alamnagar, Niranjan Kumar Mehta from Bihariganj, Ramesh Rishi Dev from Singheshwar, Kavita Saha from Madhepura, Gandeshwar Shah from Mahisi, and Atirek Kumar from Kusheshwarsthan. Additional names include Shyam Rajak (Phulwari), Dhumal Singh (Ekma), Ratnesh Sada (Sonbarsa), Santosh Kumar Nirala (Rajpur), Madan Sahni (Bahadurpur), Shri Bhagwan Singh Kushwaha (Jagdishpur), Komal Singh (Gaighat), and Vidya Sagar Singh Nishad (Morwa).
Reshuffles and Withdrawals
In a reshuffle, Atirek Kumar replaces Aman Bhushan Hazari in Kusheshwarsthan after the latter’s ticket was cancelled. Similarly, Sudarshan’s candidature from Barbigha has been withdrawn, though the replacement is yet to be announced.
Why This List Is LJP-RV’s Nightmare
This is where things get really interesting for Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas). The JDU has brazenly announced candidates for four seats that the LJP-RV claimed during seat-sharing negotiations within the NDA. This isn’t an oversight; it’s a deliberate power play.
By announcing candidates for contested seats before the alliance arrangement has been finalized, the JDU has put the LJP-RV in a difficult position. Either accept JDU’s dominance and settle for fewer seats, or risk a public confrontation that could weaken the NDA’s united front ahead of crucial elections.
Bihar Assembly Poll Schedule
Polling for the 243-seat Bihar Assembly will take place in two phases, on November 6 and November 11, with vote counting scheduled for November 14. The final electoral roll includes 7.42 crore registered voters.