NEW DELHI: The race for Bihar’s 2025 Assembly elections intensified on Wednesday with a flurry of major developments across parties — from BJP’s new list of candidates to
Prashant Kishor’s decision to stay out of the contest and RJD leader
Tejashwi Yadav’s filing of nomination papers from his family bastion of Raghopur.
While the NDA allies have almost completed their ticket distribution, the opposition INDIA bloc remains entangled in talks over seat-sharing. With the first phase of polling just weeks away, the political heat in Bihar is soaring, here are the major developments of the day:
Kishor opts out: ‘Will not contest, need to build Jan Suraaj’
Prashant Kishor confirmed he will not contest the upcoming assembly elections, saying his decision was made for the “greater good” of his party, Jan Suraaj.
Speaking to PTI, Kishor said, “If I were to contest, it would distract me from necessary organisational work.” He added that his party had decided to field Chanchal Singh against Tejashwi Yadav in Raghopur instead.
Despite stepping aside, Kishor exuded confidence about Jan Suraaj’s performance: “We will either win handsomely or face a complete drubbing. There’s no middle ground.” He further stated, “A tally below 150 will be a defeat for me.”
Also read: Kishor says NDA in 'complete chaos'; claims Nitish Kumar won't return as CMRJD claimed Kishor has “accepted defeat for his Jan Suraaj Party even before going to the battlefield,” while the BJP said, “Kishor realised he would not win elections.” The JD(U) called it a “humiliation for his party workers.”
Reacting, RJD’s Mrityunjay Tiwary said, “Kishor’s tyre has been flattened,” while BJP’s Niraj Kumar said his “bubble burst even before the elections.” JD(U)’s Neeraj Kumar added, “He has run away before the electoral battle.”
Union minister Giriraj Singh mocked Kishor’s target as “Mungerilal ke haseen sapne,” calling Jan Suraaj a “vote katwa” and “RJD’s B team.”
JD(U) releases first list — big bet on new comers
Janata Dal (United) released its first list, betting big on newcomers. Chief minister Nitish Kumar’s party announced its first list of 57 candidates, featuring 30 fresh faces alongside 27 sitting MLAs.
The newcomer-heavy list targets key constituencies, including five seats reportedly sought by Chirag Paswan’s LJP (RV), signaling a direct challenge. JD(U) has also carefully balanced caste representation—fielding candidates across OBCs, Scheduled Castes, Extremely Backward Castes, and upper castes—to maintain its traditional social justice appeal.
Also read: 57 candidates, 30 newcomers, 0 Muslims - What JD(U)'s 1st list reveals about Nitish’s game planNotably absent in this list are Muslim candidates, a departure from past elections, which might impact JD(U)’s support among Muslim voters. The party has also included cabinet ministers, women candidates, and recent turncoats, showcasing a mix of experience and fresh energy.
Congress announces first list, without MGB deal
The Congress announced 17 candidates for the elections, even as it continued to remain silent on any formal seat-sharing arrangement with the Mahagathbandhan. The candidates were handed party tickets by Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Rajesh Ram.
The list includes Vijendra Chaudhary from Muzaffarpur, Om Prakash Garg from Gopalganj, Jitendra Singh from Amarpur, and Amita Bhushan from Begusarai. Also nominated are Lalan Kumar (Sultanganj), Rajesh Ram (Kutumba), Shashi Shekhar (Wazirganj), and Kaushalendra Kumar (Nalanda). Anand Shankar Singh will contest from Aurangabad, while Pratima Das has been fielded from Rajapakad. Shiv Prakash Garib Das will contest from Bachhwara, and Trishuldhari Singh from Barabigha.
BJP names all 101 candidates
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) released its second and third list for the upcoming polls. With this the saffron party announced all the 101 candidates it had been allotted as part of the NDA.
In its third list of 18 candidates, the party named Bina Devi from Kochadhaman and Sanjay Pandey from Narkatiaganj.
In the second list of 12 candidates, it was announced that popular folk singer Maithili Thakur will contest from Alinagar in Darbhanga, while former IPS officer Anand Mishra, who earlier headed the youth wing of Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj party, has been fielded from Buxar.
The list also includes Ram Chandra Prasad from Hayaghat, Ranjan Kumar from Muzaffarpur, Subhash Singh from Gopalganj, and Vinay Kumar Singh from Sonepur. BJP had released its first list a day earlier, featuring key figures such as deputy chief ministers Samrat Choudhary (Tarapur) and Vijay Sinha (Lakhisarai), along with former Deputy CMs Renu Devi (Bettiah) and Tarkishore Prasad (Katihar).
Interestingly, Assembly Speaker Nand Kishore Yadav was denied a ticket from Patna Sahib, replaced by Ratnesh Kushwaha, while long-time MLA Arun Kumar Sinha was dropped in favour of Sanjay Gupta from Kumrahar. The list also includes nine women candidates, including Renu Devi and Sweety Singh from Kishanganj.
Tejashwi files nomination from Raghopur, vows change for Bihar
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav filed his nomination papers from Raghopur, the family’s traditional seat, in the presence of his parents — RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and former CM Rabri Devi. He was accompanied by sister Misa Bharti and senior party aides.
Addressing supporters, Tejashwi dismissed rumours of contesting multiple seats, saying, “The voters of Raghopur have reposed their trust in me twice. I am contesting only this one seat. But I want the people of Bihar to think they’re voting for Tejashwi in all 243 constituencies.”
Also read: RJD's Tejashwi Yadav says 3 top leaders 'bought by BJP' now in control - watchHe pledged to transform Bihar’s governance, saying the polls were about “not just changing the government but changing Bihar.” The RJD, as part of the INDIA bloc, has promised to bring a Job Guarantee Act ensuring one government job per household if elected.
Thousands of supporters lined the 40-km route from Patna to Hajipur as the RJD convoy moved towards the collectorate, showering the Yadav family’s car with flower petals. Lalu Prasad, in a wheelchair, accompanied his son into the nomination venue.
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