The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has begun its electoral campaign for the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections by releasing its first list of 71 candidates, emphasizing a mix of experience, caste balance, and fresh faces. The list, released on October 14, includes prominent leaders such as Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Chaudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, alongside new contenders, women candidates, and younger leaders — signaling a broader strategy aimed at consolidation across voter demographics.
Samrat Chaudhary, who earlier held the Parbatta seat, will contest from Tarapur, a politically active segment with strong caste dynamics. His nomination reflects both political confidence and internal BJP strategy to anchor leadership in electorally sensitive areas. His counterpart, Vijay Sinha, is set to defend Lakhisarai, his stronghold.
A notable aspect of the list is the inclusion of nine women candidates, part of the BJP’s efforts to enhance female representation — a move aligned with recent central government initiatives focused on women’s empowerment. Names such as Shreyasi Singh (Jamui), Renu Devi (Bettiah), and Sweety Singh (Kishanganj) highlight this shift.
The list also offers insight into generational changes within the party. Several senior leaders have been dropped, the most prominent being Nand Kishore Yadav, the veteran MLA from Patna Sahib. He has been replaced by Ratnesh Kushwaha, seen as a rising face within the organization. The move has sparked some internal discussion, but top BJP functionaries maintain that generational transition is necessary to sustain relevance with younger voters.
Former Deputy Chief Minister Tarkishore Prasad will contest from Katihar, while Mangal Pandey, who served as Health Minister, will stand from Siwan. Ram Kripal Yadav, former Union Minister and once a close aide of RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, is also back in contention — this time from Danapur.
This first batch of candidates comes under the newly confirmed NDA seat-sharing agreement. As per the pact, BJP and JD(U) will field candidates on 101 seats each, while LJP (Ram Vilas) gets 29, and smaller NDA allies like HAM and Rashtriya Lok Morcha have been allocated 6 seats each.
Party insiders say this first list was finalized after long deliberations at the central and state levels, involving inputs from the BJP’s central election committee, feedback from ground-level karyakartas (workers), and caste arithmetic analysis. The selections reflect an effort to appeal across upper castes, OBCs, Dalits, and EBCs, with care taken to maintain a visible regional balance across north and south Bihar.
Notably, Prem Kumar, a veteran leader from Gaya Town, has been renominated. Similarly, Nitin Nabin will contest again from Bankipur, a politically aware urban constituency in Patna.
Analysts point out that this list signals a strong early push by the BJP, giving it momentum and shaping the early narrative of the Bihar Assembly battle. With polling scheduled in two phases — November 6 and 11 — and counting on November 14, the BJP appears intent on keeping the focus on development, leadership clarity, and grassroots mobilization.
The coming days are expected to bring announcements from JD(U) and other NDA partners, following BJP’s lead. BJP sources suggest two more lists may follow soon, depending on evolving negotiations and final confirmation from the allies.
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