Congress Releases Second List for Bihar Assembly Elections: Five Candidates Named Amid Alliance Tensions

RJD and Congress failed to finalize a seat agreement for the first phase of the Bihar elections.

New Delhi:

The Congress party unveiled its second list for the Bihar assembly elections on Saturday, naming candidates for five assembly seats: Narkatiaganj, Kishanganj, Kasba, Purnia, and Gaya Town.

Shaswat Kedar Pandey has been selected to contest from Narkatiaganj, while Qamrul Hoda will represent Kishanganj. For the remaining constituencies, Irfan Alam will contest from Kasba, Jitender Yadav from Purnia, and Mohan Shrivasta from Gaya Town.

This follows the release of Congress's first list of 48 candidates on October 17 for the upcoming Bihar Legislative Assembly elections.

The Mahagathbandhan alliance, comprising RJD and Congress, couldn't conclude seat-sharing arrangements for the first phase as the nomination deadline passed on Friday. The alliance partners are now engaged in what's being described as a "friendly fight" on several seats.

The Bihar elections 2025 are scheduled for November 6 and 11, with results to be declared on November 14.

Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor took aim at the opposition alliance on Saturday, predicting that the Mahagathbandhan would finish third in the polls. He asserted that the real electoral battle would be between the National Democratic Alliance and his Jan Suraaj party.

"INDIA alliance is going to finish third this time. The fight is between the NDA and Jan Suraaj," Kishor told reporters.

Adding to the opposition's challenges, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) announced today that it would contest the Bihar elections independently rather than as part of the Mahagathbandhan. JMM, which leads the ruling coalition in neighboring Jharkhand and is a member of the opposition INDIA bloc, will field candidates in six constituencies.

JMM general secretary and spokesperson Supriyo Bhattacharya confirmed: "Dhamdaha, Chakai, Katoria, Manihari, Jamui and Pirpainti - we will contest these. The situation everywhere is different. Why is Congress contesting against RJD? Why is CPI contesting against VIP? Election strategies change."

BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari alleged there is an "internal tug of war" within the opposition Mahagathbandhan, claiming that RJD workers are actively competing against Congress workers on the ground.

"Aapsi ladai ke patake Mahagathbandhan main phoot rahe hain," he remarked.

Bhandari further commented on social media: "Mahagathbandhan in Bihar has till not officially announced its seat sharing. There are reports that RJD wants to have a candidate against the Congress Bihar President. Mahagathbandhan in Bihar is fighting a massive Internal tug of war: Rahul Gandhi has asked his party men to not focus on RJD seats. RJD workers are fighting against Congress workers on ground."

He added: "Tejasvi Yadav and Mukesh Sahni have no face to show their workers; after been humiliated by Congress and Rahul Gandhi."

Campaign activities have intensified, particularly in constituencies voting in the first phase of the Bihar election.