The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday released its first list of 71 candidates for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, scheduled to be held in two phases on November 6 and 11. Counting of votes will take place on November 14.
The list was finalised during a meeting of the BJP Central Election Committee held on October 12 under the chairmanship of party president J.P. Nadda. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, and other senior leaders were present at the meeting.
Prominent names in the list include Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha from Lakhisarai, and Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary from Tarapur, Mangal Pandey from Siwan, Tarkishore Prasad from Katihar, Ramkripal Yadav from Danapur, Nitin Nabin from Bankipur, Renu Devi from Bettiah, Prem Kumar from Gaya Town, Shreyasi Singh from Jamui, .
The announcement follows the National Democratic Alliance (NDA)’s seat-sharing arrangement declared earlier. As per the agreement, both the BJP and Janata Dal (United) will contest 101 seats each in the 243-member Assembly. Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) has been allotted 29 seats, while the Rashtriya Lok Morcha and Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) will contest six seats each.
The NDA alliance for the Bihar elections comprises the BJP, JD(U), LJP (Ram Vilas), HAM (Secular), and the Rashtriya Lok Morcha.
Confirming the seat-sharing formula, Bihar BJP in-charge Vinod Tawde posted on social media that the arrangement was reached through mutual consensus in a cordial atmosphere. He said the decision had been welcomed by leaders and workers of all NDA partners, who are committed to returning the alliance to power in the state.
The NDA faces a challenge from the opposition INDIA bloc, led by RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav. The alliance includes the Congress, CPI (ML), CPI, CPM, and the Vikasheel Insaan Party (VIP) led by Mukesh Sahani.
The Bihar Assembly elections will also see the political debut of Prashant Kishor’s party, Jan Suraaj.
(With ANI inputs)