JD(U) Unveils 57 Candidates for Bihar Assembly Elections

Patna: The Janata Dal (United) has announced its first list of 57 candidates for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, scheduled for November 6 and 11. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's party released the list amid some dissent from party leaders regarding ticket distribution. JD(U) working president Sanjay Kumar Jha stated that the selection was based on caste dynamics and the candidates' chances of winning in their respective areas.

The party has retained all its current ministers and sitting MLAs, who will seek re-election. A notable portion of the candidates comes from the Extremely Backward Classes, which constitute nearly 36% of Bihar's population. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is expected to support candidate Vijay Kumar Chaudhary as he files his nomination from Sarairanjan on October 16.

However, a conflict has arisen with Chirag Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) over five contested seats: Alauli, Sonbarsa, Rajgir, Ekma, and Morwa. Chirag Paswan has expressed that the Alauli seat, located in his home district of Khagaria, is particularly significant for him.

The candidate list includes several controversial figures known for their influence in local politics. Anant Singh, a former MLA with a criminal background, will contest from Mokama, a seat previously held by his wife, who switched allegiance to the NDA last year. Other candidates include Umesh Kushwaha from Mahnar, Dhumal Singh from Ekma, and Shrawan Kumar from Nalanda, among others.

The JD(U) is competing in a political landscape where the NDA has already announced its candidates, with the BJP releasing a list of 71 candidates earlier this week. The total number of electors for the elections stands at 7.42 crore, and the counting of votes will take place on November 14. In the previous assembly elections, the JD(U) secured only 43 out of the 115 seats it contested.