The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) took a decisive step on Tuesday by announcing its first batch of 71 candidates for the highly anticipated Bihar Assembly elections, scheduled in two phases on November 6 and 11. This release marks the party’s opening salvo in a fierce electoral contest that will shape Bihar’s political future.
Among the prominent names are the two Deputy Chief Ministers, Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, who will be contesting from Tarapur and Lakhisarai constituencies, respectively. The list also features senior BJP stalwarts, including Ram Kripal Yadav from Danapur, Mangal Pandey from Siwan, Tarkishore Prasad from Katihar, Renu Devi from Bettiah, and Prem Kumar from Gaya, underscoring the party’s blend of experience and regional representation.
In a notable exclusion, Bihar Assembly Speaker Nand Kishore Yadav has not been renominated. Instead, Ratnesh Kushwaha has been chosen to contest from the politically significant Patna Sahib seat, signaling strategic recalibrations within the party ranks.
Party insiders revealed that the list was finalized following thorough deliberations by the BJP’s central election committee. The selection process emphasized achieving a balanced representation across caste, regional, and gender lines, aiming to consolidate the party’s electoral appeal across Bihar’s diverse demographics.
This announcement aligns with the National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) recent seat-sharing agreement, under which the BJP and its ally Janata Dal (United) will each contest 101 out of the 243 seats, while smaller allies like the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) and others fill the remaining slots.
The two-phase polling will test the strength of the ruling alliance against a formidable opposition as vote counting is slated for November 14. The BJP’s candidate list release marks a critical juncture in campaign preparations as the parties ramp up outreach and electoral strategies ahead of the high-stakes polls.
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