The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has released its second and third lists of candidates for the Bihar Assembly election 2025, sealing names for all 101 seats it is fighting in the state.
Second list brings fresh faces
The second list was announced on Wednesday, containing 12 candidates, among whom was popular folk singer Maithili Thakur, who has been nominated from Alinagar. The BJP has brought nine new faces to this list, indicating a strategic effort to infuse new energy and reach out to varied voter groups.
Third list seals slate
On Thursday morning, October 16, the BJP brought out its third list, announcing the rest of the candidates and finalising its roster for all 101 seats. This list consisted of Nand Kishor Ram (Ramnagar), Krishnanandan Paswan (Harsidhi), Murari Paswan (Pirpainti), and Sangeeta Kumari (Mohania) - all from SC-reserved constituencies.
Singer Maithili Thakur enters politics
Maithili Thakur's nomination is a strategic decision by the party to bank on her extensive popularity among young people and her cultural following within the Mithilanchal region, where Alinagar is one of the major battlegrounds.
"I am very impressed with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. I am here to serve society and contribute to the development of Bihar," Thakur stated on Tuesday following her induction.
Prominent names and dropped MLAs
Other prominent candidates of the second list are former IPS officer Anand Mishra, who will be contesting from Buxar, Virendra Kumar from Rosra, and Chhoti Kumari from Chhapra. Two incumbent MLAs - Ramchandra Prasad from Hayaghat and Birendra Kumar from Rosera - have been kept back. The party, however, has ditched three incumbent MLAs -Gyanendra Singh Gyanu (Barh), CN Gupta (Chhapra), and Kusum Devi (Gopalganj). The BJP has nominated Rakesh Ojha from Shahpur, Kedarnath Singh from Baniapur, and Mahesh Paswan from Agiaon, among others.
The elections for the Bihar Assembly will be conducted in two phases -on November 6 and November 11, with votes counting on November 14. Under the NDA alliance, the BJP and JD(U) are fighting for 101 seats each, and Chirag Paswan's LJP (Ram Vilas) will fight for 29 seats.
