Bihar Assembly Election 2025 Live Updates: AIMIM releases first list of 25 candidates; fields candidates in Seemanchal and Mithilanchal

In a dampener of sorts to a keenly anticipated direct battle between Prashant Kishor and Tejashwi Yadav in the upcoming Bihar assembly polls, the Jan Suraaj has decided to field a littleknown political activist from Raghopur, a bastion of Lalu Prasad’s family where the RJD’s chief ministerial face has been winning from since 2015.

“Tejashwi will file his nomination Wednesday,” RJD spokesperson Shakti Singh Yadav said. Pitted against Tejashwi will be Chanchal Singh of Jan Suraaj, the fledgling outfit founded by Kishor. On Tuesday, Jan Suraaj president Uday Singh handed the poll symbol to Singh.

NDA is yet to announce its candidate from Raghopur.

According to RJD sources, Tejashwi will leave for Raghopur early on Wednesday and submit his nomination papers at 11am. The party has urged its supporters to be in attendance in large numbers.

The seat drew wide attention since Kishor had hinted at contesting from there. A few days ago, he even visited the Raghopur constituency, which is in Vaishali district.

Raghopur votes in first of two-phase polls in Bihar on Nov 6. The last date for filing nomination papers is Oct 17.

BJP ally Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party (SBSP) Tuesday announced it would contest Bihar polls on its own. The announcement came hours after BJP sidelined SBSP to declare its seat-sharing arrangement with its Bihar allies — JDU, LJP (RV), RLM, and HAM.

SBSP also released its list of 20 star campaigners, including party chief Om Prakash Rajbhar and his sons Arvind and Arun. Arvind, who is also the party’s national general secretary, will camp in Bihar and oversee the party’s poll work.

SBSP national general secretary Shashi Bhushan Singh said the party is likely to announce its first list of candidates on Wednesday.

SBSP sources said OP Rajbhar was seeking 10-12 seats from BJP. These were the seats where the party’s core vote base of Rajbhar, Bhar, and Rajvanshi communities have a sizable presence. Sources said Rajbhar has now narrowed down his demand to five seats — Rajpur (Buxar), Dhaka (East Champaran), Nalanda, Arwal and Sasaram (Rohtas).

SBSP’s organisational strength in Bihar is marginal, but the party hopes to attract non-Yadav OBC and Rajbhar voters in eastern districts bordering UP.

Known for flexing muscles while being a part of alliance in the past, Rajbhar wants to project himself as a key political player in the non-Yadav OBC matrix. A senior SBSP functionary said by going solo in Bihar, Rajbhar aims to project SBSP as a national OBC-centric party rather than just a regional ally of BJP, primarily in UP.

"The first list of JDU will be released today. The election campaign of CM Nitish Kumar will begin from tomorrow... We are fighting the election on the face of Nitish Kumar. On 14th November, Nitish Kumar will become the Chief Minister of Bihar... 50% women of Bihar are going to vote for Nitish Kumar. The result of the election will be unprecedented," said JDU MP Sanjay Kumar Jha.

As suspense deepened over India bloc’s seat-sharing formula in Bihar, Congress’s central election committee met in Delhi Tuesday evening to finalise candidates for the Nov state polls. The meeting came amid signs that talks with key ally RJD have resumed after days of uncertainty.

Congress election committee is learnt to have discussed 26 seats. Sources said the party has reviewed a total of 72 seats till now, but without a clear indication as to how many it will contest as part of the seat-sharing deal with the allies.

Congress is likely to get up to 60 seats as its share in the alliance. At the CEC meeting, party president Mallikarjun Kharge is learnt to have told the panel that the screening committees should narrow down the search to a single candidate and then bring it before the CEC, expressing his dissatisfaction with the panel of names put before the committee headed by him.

Adding intrigue to the INDIA uncertainty, RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha posted a cryptic couplet on social media — “Rahiman dhaga prem ka, mat todo chhitkay (Rahim says, do not break the thread of love)…” — while discussions between Congress and its ally gained pace. Opposition politicians are expected to announce the seat-sharing deal in Patna Wednesday, sources said.

With just three days left before nominations close for the first phase, covering 121 of Bihar’s 243 seats, the alliance — comprising RJD, Congress, Left parties, and Vikassheel Insaan Party — is under pressure to finalise the seat allocations.

A senior Congress functionary said the atmosphere had improved. “Relations have got sweeter again and the number is not an issue now. Well, there remain some hitches over the exchange of seats, which will be settled in due course,” he added.

Sources said Congress has been offered two options — contest around 60 seats, or take 73 seats if Mukesh Sahani’s VIP is accommodated from its share. Monday’s talks between Congress managers and RJD functionary Tejashwi Yadav reportedly paved the way for Tuesday’s CEC meeting, suggesting a formula might already be agreed upon, pending formal announcement. The evening saw further developments. CPI-ML, a key Left ally, withdrew its list of candidates, signalling progress in negotiations. RJD allegedly reclaimed poll symbols issued to aspirants earlier. “We are not aware of it,” said RJD state spokesperson Shakti Singh Yadav. “None could put pressure on RJD. We work with ideological commitments which can’t be changed. An alliance means mutual harmony. When everyone’s opinions are respected, it is an alliance.”

Amid speculation, an RJD MP close to party patriarch Lalu Prasad’s family was seen near the CM House past midnight Monday, further fuelling chatter of behindthe-scenes talks. Members of India bloc have largely avoided public comments, choosing to stay ambiguous about the ongoing negotiations.

This prolonged uncertainty marks a rare delay in Bihar’s political playbook — the first time in nearly three decades that seat-sharing talks among allies have stretched so close to the nomination deadline, leaving both party cadres and voters guessing about how the opposition alliance will take shape at the EVMs.

Anant Singh, a strongman known for his antics, on Tuesday filed his nomination papers as JDU candidate from Mokama assembly seat, his pocket borough, even as the party has yet to officially announce its nominees for upcoming Bihar assembly polls.

The seat, which he has won four times in the past, is currently represented by his wife Neelam Devi, who won from there in 2020. Addressing the media, Singh said, “This election is based on people’s blessings and trust and I will always remain dedicated to serving people.” Singh later held a 35km roadshow with thousands of vehicles following him.

"We are saying this since the beginning that BJP's intention is to finish all regional parties... Now, conflicts have started to emerge within BJP as well," said RJD spokesperson Mrityunjay Tiwari in reaction to Kushwaha's remark.

Earlier, Kushwaha said "everything will be fine" while he was heading for Delhi to meet Union home minister Amit Shah. His remark suggested that not all differences have been ironed out in the BJP-JD(U)-dominant NDA.

"I am going to Delhi. Some pondering needs to be done on the decisions that are being made in the NDA. I am going to Delhi to hold talks on the same. I'm hopeful that everything will be fine," said Rashtriya Lok Morcha chief and Rajya Sabha MP Upendra Kushwaha.

Union Minister Nityanand Rai said: "Just like Upendra ji has said, everything is fine and everything will be fine soon."

Former Bihar CM Jitan Ram Manjhi made a casual remark at a social event a couple of months ago that revealed his inner hurt: “Though I am now a member of the Union cabinet, people in Gaya continue to regard me as an ordinary MLA and come to me for petty works.” The words carried both pain and resignation, a sense that despite his long career, Manjhi remains unrecognised in his own land.

Some in Manjhi’s Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular), or HAM (S), say he has only himself to blame. Ever approachable and always available, he visits Gaya frequently, attends countless gatherings and greets people without ceremony — qualities that, ironically, have led many to take him for granted.

Observers say despite 45 years in public life — he was first elected MLA in 1980 — Manjhi remains the most underrated neta of Magadh, even though he has been the only politician from that region of Bihar to become CM so far. “He may be politically smart, but mannerisms and snobbery are not part of his persona,” said activist Brajnandan Pathak, a long-time aide. His simplicity, Pathak said, becomes a source of embarrassment.

Now in his eighties, Manjhi’s journey is punctuated with instances of humiliation. In the 1980s, while serving as a minister in a Congress govt, he failed to save a relative, a district welfare officer, from corruption charges and jail. The then DM ignored Manjhi’s pleas. Ironically, that same officer later became chief secretary of Jharkhand, while the DM who had jailed Manjhi’s relative eventually faced prison himself in a bribery scandal.

In 2005, Manjhi was dismissed as minister within hours of taking oath over a vigilance inquiry into an earlier tenure in the Rabri Devi govt. He returned to the cabinet only after the case was dropped. In 2013, Manjhi, part of the state cabinet, went to meet the then CM at Gaya Circuit House. But security personnel, citing “standing instructions,” barred him in full public view.

For a man who rose from the margins to Bihar’s highest office, Jitan Ram Manjhi’s story remains a portrait of dignity amid indignities — a veteran leader whose humility often outshines his power.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will interact with the booth-level party workers of Bihar on Wednesday under the 'Mera Booth Sabse Majboot' campaign and will hear their suggestions ahead of the forthcoming Assembly elections.

The 'Mera Booth Sabse Majboot' initiative is a long-running, interactive outreach campaign aiming to strengthen the party's connections with its workers and supporters at the local or booth levels.

Earlier on Sunday, PM Modi wrote in a post on X, "Our dedicated workers have geared up with full energy for the victory of BJP-NDA in Bihar. Interacting with such dedicated workers always provides new inspiration. On October 15, I will get the opportunity to directly interact with such workers."

Inviting the workers, he said, "My request is... all of you join the 'Mera Booth Sabse Majboot' campaign and share your suggestions today itself. I will also directly discuss with some selected workers on their suggestions." (IANS)

It said that the discussions were ongoing on a few more seats and the final list would be released in a press conference.

Jan Suraaj has fielded Chanchal Singh from Tejashwi Yadav’s stronghold Raghopur.

Amidst the ongoing buzz of differences between the National Democratic Alliance following seat distribution, BJP MP Sanjay Jaiswal affirmed NDA's victory in the upcoming Bihar polls, stating that the alliance is "completely united".

Ahead of Bihar Election 2025, folk and devotional singer Maithili Thakur joined the BJP in Patna, Bihar.

A large crowd gathered outside Lalu's residence after he reached Patna from Delhi, where he had appeared before a court. According to news agency PTI, aspirants who apparently received phone calls from the party began pouring in, only to emerge minutes later with the party symbol in their hands and a broad smile on their faces.

Other notable candidates announced by the BJP include senior leader Ram Kripal Yadav from Danapur, Prem Kumar from Gaya, former deputy chief minister Tarkishore Prasad from Katihar, Alok Ranjan Jha from Saharsa, and Mangal Pandey from Siwan.

" I want to thank the party's central and state leadership for having faith in me. I also express my gratitude to the people of Bankipur. There are many issues, including road connectivity in Bankipur, which are getting resolved," he said.

On being asked about rumours of Nitish Kumar being upset, he added, "For politics of bargaining, Lalu Yadav ji floated such information in the market. Because he was unable to bargain with Congress, he did this. NDA alliance of five Pandavas - Nitish Kumar, PM modi, Chirag, Majhi ji, Upendra Kushwaha will end corrupt Kauravas."

Simultaneously, Shreyashi Singh will contest from Jamui.

Additionally, Deputy CM Vijay Sinha will contest from Lakhisarai, Mangal Pandey from Siwan.

"The discussion on which party will contest which seat is also in its final stages with positive talks. Under the leadership of Modi ji and Nitish ji, all NDA parties are fully prepared with unity. Bihar is ready. NDA government," said Paswan on X.

He alleged he was not consulted in the election ticket distribution ahead of Assembly elections.

RJD president Lalu Prasad distributed party tickets to candidates personally, despite the INDIA bloc in Bihar yet to announce a formal seat-sharing plan. A rush of aspirants gathered at the bungalow of his wife, former CM Rabri Devi, receiving tickets and emerging with the party symbol.

Notable recipients included Sunil Singh (Parbatta), who recently quit JD(U), and former MLA Narendra Kumar Singh (Matihani), reflecting Tejashwi Yadav’s strategy to woo Bhumihars. Several sitting RJD MLAs, including Bhai Virendra and Chandrashekhar Yadav, also received tickets.

The move echoes last year’s Lok Sabha polls when Lalu distributed tickets ahead of alliance approvals. The RJD’s allies include Congress, three Left parties, VIP, and potentially Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren’s JMM and RLJP.

Congress leader Manoj Kumar indicated that the INDIA bloc may announce its seat-sharing formula by Tuesday, after ensuring fairness and consensus among alliance partners.

Congress state in-charge Krishna Allavaru stated that discussions on seat sharing within the INDIA bloc are still underway, aiming to form a strong, united government in Bihar.

The ruling NDA finalised its seat allocation, earlier this week, with BJP and JDU contesting 101 seats each, LJP (Ram Vilas) 29, HAM 6, and RLM 6, as confirmed by Bihar BJP in-charge Vinod Tawde.