BJP Releases First List of 71 Candidates for Bihar Assembly Elections, NDA Seat Sharing Talks Ongoing

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has announced its first list of 71 candidates for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections as the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) continues seat-sharing negotiations among its partners. The list, released on October 14, includes senior leaders such as Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary contesting from Tarapur, Minister Nitin Naveen from Bankipur, and Minister Mangal Pandey from Siwan. Nine women candidates have been included in this initial announcement.

BJP has been allocated 101 seats in the NDA alliance, sharing equal numbers with Janata Dal (United), while smaller allies Lok Janshakti Party-Rashtriya, Hindustani Awam Morcha, and Rashtriya Lok Janata Dal contest fewer seats. The party’s candidate selection reflects a mix of repeat contenders and fresh faces, with notable exclusions including former Speaker Nand Kishore Yadav, whose ticket has been cut. Prominent leaders Ram Kripal Yadav from Danapur and Renu Devi from Bettiah have made the cut in this list.

The NDA partners are still engaged in talks to finalize the seat allocations ahead of the elections. Other alliance members are expected to release their candidate lists in the coming days. Meanwhile, pre-election campaigning has picked up pace, with parties vying to consolidate support across the diverse constituencies in Bihar.

The BJP leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, met recently to strategize and approve candidate selections. The party’s focus remains on maintaining and expanding its foothold in Bihar through a balance of experienced leaders and emerging political faces, catering to various social groups and voter segments.

This first candidate list and ongoing alliance negotiations set the stage for what is expected to be a crucial and closely contested Bihar Assembly election in 2025.