New Delhi: The BJP on Tuesday released its first list of 71 candidates, dropping as many as 16 faces to counter anti-incumbency. The most prominent among them is Bihar assembly Speaker Nand Kishore, who had been representing the Patna Sahib seat from 2010.

In the list, which has over eight women candidates, the party has fielded former union minister Ramkirpal Yadav from the Danapur seat, deputy CMs Samrat Chaudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, who are both MLCs, as well as former deputy CM Renu Devi.

Chaudhary will be contesting from Tarapu, a seat that his mother had held. Chaudhary last won an assembly election in 2010. Vijay Sinha has been fielded from Lakhisarai, while Renu Devi has been fielded from Bettiah. Senior party leader Mangal Pandey will contest from Siwan.

In Patnasahib, where

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