Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday released its first list of 71 candidates. This announcement comes as the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) gears up for a high-stakes contest in the 243-seat legislature, with polling scheduled in two phases on November 6 and 11, and vote counting set for November 14. The list, cleared by the party's central election committee, features a mix of seasoned politicians, incumbents, and fresh faces.
The release follows the NDA's recent seat-sharing agreement, under which the BJP and its key ally, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal (United) or JD(U), will each contest 101 seats. The remaining 41 seats have been allocated to smaller partners, including the Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) led by Jitan Ram Manjhi and the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) under Chirag Paswan. The BJP's first list covers constituencies across various regions, from north Bihar's flood-prone areas to the urban centres of Patna and the southern districts.
Among the standout names in the list are the two deputy chief ministers - Samrat Chaudhary, who also serves as the state BJP president, has been fielded from Tarapur in Munger district, a seat he has represented before. Vijay Kumar Sinha, the other deputy CM and former assembly speaker, will contest from Lakhisarai, leveraging his influence in the Magadh region. Their inclusion is seen as a bid to project stability and continuity within the NDA government.
Other prominent figures include Renu Devi, a former deputy CM, who will seek re-election from Bettiah in West Champaran. Health Minister Mangal Pandey has been nominated for Siwan, a constituency with a history of tight races. In Patna, the BJP has retained Nitin Nabin for Bankipur, a prestigious urban seat, while Sanjiv Chaurasia will defend Digha. The list also features Shreyasi Singh, the international shooter and sitting MLA, from Jamui, highlighting the party's effort to appeal to younger voters and sports enthusiasts.
Notably absent from the list is Nand Kishore Yadav, the current assembly speaker and a veteran BJP leader from Patna Sahib. His exclusion has raised eyebrows, with speculation that he might be accommodated in a later list or shifted to another role. The party has also fielded several women candidates like Gayatri Devi from Parihar, Devanti Yadav from Narpatganj, and Aruna Devi from Warsaliganj. Reserved constituencies see representations such as Anil Kumar Ram from Bathnaha (SC) and Puran Lal Tudu from Katoria (ST), reflecting the BJP's outreach to marginalized communities. With 30 more candidates still to be named, the BJP's complete slate is expected soon.
