1.3K in fray for 121 seats as stage set for 1st phase of Bihar polls
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Patna: Officials confirmed that 1,314 candidates remain in the contest for the first phase of the Bihar Assembly elections, set to take place on November 6. This phase will cover 121 constituencies across 18 districts and is expected to feature a direct contest between the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Opposition’s INDIA bloc.
According to sources in the Election Commission, a total of 1,690 nominations were submitted between October 10 and 17. Of these, 135 were rejected on technical grounds, and candidates had until October 20 to withdraw their papers.
The first phase will serve as an important test for Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) and Lalu Prasad Yadav’s Rashtriya Janata Dal. Prominent leaders in the fray include Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Chaudhary from Tarapur and Vijay Kumar Sinha from Lakhisarai, as well as Opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav, who is contesting from Raghopur, TNIE reported.
Muzaffarpur and Kurhani constituencies have drawn the highest number of candidates—20 each—while Alauli and Parbatta have the fewest, with only five contenders apiece. In Patna district, 149 candidates are competing, with Paliganj recording the highest competition at 14.
Among the key figures are JD(U) state president Umesh Kushwaha contesting from Mahnar and RJD’s Bhola Yadav, a close confidant of Lalu Prasad. Health Minister Mangal Pandey is seeking re-election from Siwan, while former minister Nitin Nabin is contesting from Bankipur. In Patna Sahib, Congress candidate Shashank Shekhar, an IIT Delhi alumnus, will take on BJP’s Ratnesh Kushwaha.
Former Union Minister Ram Kripal Yadav is facing off against RJD MLA Ritlal Yadav, who is seeking another term from jail.
Other notable candidates include Bhojpuri actor Khesari Lal Yadav representing the RJD, folk singer Maithili Thakur from Alinagar, and Osama Sahab, the son of late Mohammad Shahabuddin, contesting from Raghunathpur.
Several ministers—Vijay Kumar Chaudhary (Sarairanjan), Shravan Kumar (Nalanda), Jibesh Mishra (Jale), Sanjay Saraogi (Darbhanga), and Ratnesh Sada (Sonbarsa)—are also among those contestingin this phase.