Bihar Assembly Election 2023: Key Candidates and Constituencies in First Phase of Polling

Bihar Assembly Election: The first phase of polling brings many prominent political figures into the electoral arena.

New Delhi:

The Bihar assembly election has commenced with its first phase, covering 121 constituencies across 18 districts. The remaining seats from the total 243 will go to polls on November 11.

This initial phase features numerous political heavyweights contesting crucial seats.

Among the notable candidates are Tejashwi Yadav of Rashtriya Janata Dal, his estranged brother Tej Pratap Yadav who now leads Janshakti Janata Dal, Bihar's two Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, and the BJP's cultural representative Maithili Thakur.

Key candidates in this electoral phase include:

1. Tejashwi Yadav (RJD): Raghopur

RJD's Tejashwi Yadav, who serves as the Grand Alliance's Chief Ministerial candidate, is contesting again from his family stronghold of Raghopur against BJP's Satish Kumar.

Many consider this contest in the Yadav-dominated constituency a mere formality. The constituency has consistently supported RJD since 1995 when Lalu Yadav came to power, with only one exception during 2010-2015 when JD(U) briefly held it. Tejashwi has represented this seat since 2025.

Despite the apparent one-sided nature, Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj party has fielded Chanchal Kumar as their candidate.

Tejashwi Yadav's promise of providing one government job per household is viewed by his party as a potential game-changing initiative in this election.

2. Tej Pratap Yadav (JJD): Mahua

Lalu Yadav's son Tej Pratap established his own party, Janshakti Janata Dal, following a public family dispute when his 12-year relationship with a woman became public knowledge.

Though Tej Pratap claimed his Facebook account was hacked when the relationship details were posted, his family took exception to the situation, resulting in disciplinary action against him.

The elder brother of Tejashwi previously served as a minister in Nitish Kumar's administration during JD(U)'s alliance with the Grand Alliance.

He now faces RJD's incumbent MLA Mukesh Kumar Raushan in Vaishali district's Mahua constituency. Sanjay Singh from Chirag Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party is also contesting.

JJD comprises five regional parties: Vikas Vanchit Insaan Party, Bhojpuria Jan Morcha, Pragatisheel Janata Party, Wazib Adhikar Party, and Sanyukt Kisan Vikas Party.

3. Maithili Thakur (BJP): Alinagar

Popular folk singer Maithili Thakur, representing BJP's cultural outreach, is contesting her first election from Alinagar in Darbhanga district, her family's native region.

Traditionally an RJD stronghold, Alinagar was won in 2020 by Mishri Lal Yadav on a Vikassheel Insaan Party ticket before he defected to BJP.

The 25-year-old singer is optimistic about winning this seat, which was formed after the 2008 delimitation. Being part of the Mithilanchal region, BJP hopes Thakur will appeal to young voters.

Thakur, who joined BJP in October expressing her desire to "carry forward the region's culture," faces RJD's Binod Mishra and Jan Suraaj Party's Biplaw Kumar Chowdhary.

4. Samrat Choudhary (BJP): Tarapur

BJP's Samrat Choudhary, who serves as Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister, is contesting his first election in 15 years from Tarapur in Munger district. His challenger, RJD's Arun Shah, faces a difficult battle in this backward caste-dominated constituency.

Shah narrowly lost the 2021 by-poll by less than 4,000 votes to JD(U)'s Rajiv Kumar Singh. JD(U) has controlled the seat since 2010, following the death of three-time RJD winner Shakuni Chowdhary.

Choudhary, who joined BJP after orchestrating a split in RJD, belongs to the Kushwaha community, considered Bihar's second-largest caste group after Yadavs.

5. Vijay Kumar Sinha (BJP): Lakhisarai

Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha, a five-time MLA, seeks his sixth term from Lakhisarai in Munger district against Jan Suraaj Party's Suraj Kumar.

The Bhumihar-dominated constituency has been a BJP stronghold for 15 years, with Sinha representing it since 2010.

He first won from Lakhisarai in the 2005 assembly election but was replaced by RJD's Fulena Sinha in the second election held that same year following a fractured verdict.

Sinha, a former RSS worker and Bhumihar leader, made history as Bihar's first BJP Speaker after the party formed a government with JD(U) in 2020. However, he resigned in 2022 when the Grand Alliance moved a no-confidence motion against him after Nitish Kumar switched allegiances.

6. Bhojpuri actor Khesari Lal Yadav (RJD): Chhapra

Bhojpuri superstar Khesari Lal Yadav, one of the most popular singers and actors in Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh's predominant dialect, represents RJD's cultural counter to Maithali Thakur.

He faces BJP's Chhoti Kumari, with Independent candidate Rakhi Gupta making it a triangular contest.

The actor, with over 70 films and 5,000 songs to his credit, gained attention for challenging BJP's temple politics during his campaign.

"One can build temples, but will they decide our children's future?" he questioned, adding, "If temples decide our children's future, I want you to build 200 temples in Bihar."

7. Jyoti Singh (Independent): Karakat

Jyoti Singh, wife of Bhojpuri actor Pawan Singh, made headlines with their marital disputes and is now contesting from Karakat as an Independent candidate.

She filed her nomination shortly after her husband announced he would not contest the election and would remain a "true soldier" of BJP.

Their relationship became public knowledge when Jyoti accused Pawan of infidelity, generating significant media attention. As the election approached, they disagreed over who would contest.

She competes against sitting MLA Arun Kumar Singh of CPI-ML, a Grand Alliance member, and Mahabali Singh of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal United.

8. Preeti Kinnar (Jan Suraaj): Bhorey

The electoral battle in Bhorey, Gopalganj district, has gained significance with Preeti Kinnar, a transgender woman, contesting on Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraj Party ticket against Education Minister Sunil Kumar.

This Scheduled Caste constituency could witness historic social change if Preeti succeeds. Former JNU Students' Union President Dhananjay is also in the race on a CPI-ML ticket.

Reports indicate that Preeti, from Kalyanpur village in Bhorey block, has been actively involved in community service. Jan Suraaj believes her understanding of local issues will help represent common citizens' concerns in the Assembly.

9. Anant Singh (JDU): Mokama

A confrontation between powerful local strongmen has made Mokama one of the election's most-watched constituencies.

JD(U)'s Anant Singh, recently arrested for the murder of Jan Suraj supporter Dular Chand Yadav, faces RJD candidate Veena Devi, wife of Suraj Bhan Singh.

Singh, facing 28 criminal cases, has won the Mokama seat five times. Though he debuted as a JD(U) candidate, he left the party when Nitish Kumar allied with Lalu Yadav, won as an Independent, and later joined RJD in 2020.

After his 2022 conviction in an arms case cost him his assembly membership, his wife Neelam Devi contested and won the by-election. Subsequently, Anant Singh returned to JDU.

10. Nitin Nabin (BJP): Bankipur

BJP's Nitin Nabin, Bihar's Road Construction Minister, seeks a fifth term from the prominent urban Bankipur constituency in Patna. In 2020, he defeated actor-politician Shatrughan Sinha's son Luv Sinha by a substantial margin.

This time, he faces Rashtriya Janata Dal's Rekha Gupta, who recently switched from Congress. RJD hopes she can capitalize on anti-incumbency sentiment and draw support from BJP opponents.

Jan Suraaj has fielded first-time candidate Vandana Kumari, campaigning on local issues and anti-corruption platforms.

Bankipur, a BJP stronghold, has consistently supported Nabin since 2010.