Janata Dal (United) announced its first list of 57 candidates for Bihar Assembly elections on Friday, including nominees for four seats claimed by Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), signaling friction within the NDA alliance over seat-sharing arrangements.
Contested Constituencies
The party fielded candidates on seats Paswan had sought: Ratnesh Sada from Sonbarsa, Vidyasagar Nishad from Morwa, Dhumal Singh from Ekma, and Kaushal Kishore from Rajgir. JDU sources confirmed the party refused to cede these “stronghold” constituencies despite repeated discussions.
Key Candidates by JDU in Bihar Polls
Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary received a ticket from Sarai Ranjan, reaffirming his central role in JDU’s electoral strategy. Other prominent candidates include:
- Narendra Narayan Yadav from Alamnagar
- Niranjan Kumar Mehta from Bihariganj
- Ramesh Rishi Dev from Singheshwar
- Kavita Saha from Madhepura
- Gandeshwar Shah from Mahisi
- Atirek Kumar from Kusheshwarsthan
Ticket Changes
In notable reshuffles, Atirek Kumar replaces Aman Bhushan Hazari, whose ticket from Kusheshwarsthan was cancelled. Similarly, Sudarshan’s ticket from Barbigha was withdrawn, though a replacement has not been formally announced.
Alliance Tensions
The developments reveal widening cracks in NDA seat-sharing negotiations. While BJP retained high-profile constituencies, rejecting Paswan’s claims over Danapur, Lalganj, Hisua, and Arwal, JDU has formally defied aspects of the seat-sharing agreement by fielding candidates on disputed seats.
JDU sources described the move as necessary to protect the party’s core voter base and ensure “organizational integrity.”
Chirag Paswan’s party has secured limited leverage, obtaining only two BJP seats—Govindganj and Brahmapur. In Brahmapur, Hulas Pandey has been granted the party’s symbol.
Strategic Implications
The competing candidate announcements from NDA partners highlight ongoing negotiations and power dynamics within the alliance. JDU’s decision to contest seats claimed by LJP suggests Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s party is unwilling to compromise on constituencies it considers critical to its electoral performance.
The public disagreements over seat allocations may complicate NDA’s campaign cohesion as elections approach, though alliance leaders have historically resolved such disputes before polling.
Further candidate lists from all NDA partners are expected as final seat-sharing arrangements are finalized.
