Bihar Polls: BJP Fields Deputy CMs, Key Ministers in First List

• BJP releases first list of 71 candidates for Bihar polls.
• Deputy CMs Samrat Chaudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha fielded from Tarapur and Lakhisarai.
• Ramkripal Yadav to contest from Danapur.
• Speaker Nand Kishor Yadav replaced by Ratnesh Kushwaha in Patna Sahib.
• Polling on Nov 6 and 11, counting on Nov 14.

GG News Bureau
Patna, 14th Oct: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday unveiled its first list of 71 candidates for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, fielding both Deputy Chief Ministers — Samrat Chaudhary from Tarapur and Vijay Kumar Sinha from Lakhisarai.

Former Union Minister Ramkripal Yadav, once a close aide of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav, will contest from Danapur, while notable absentees include Assembly Speaker Nand Kishor Yadav, replaced by Ratnesh Kushwaha in Patna Sahib — a seat Yadav has represented since 2010.

Among other key names, senior leader Tarkishore Prasad will contest from Katihar, Health Minister Mangal Pandey from Siwan, and Road Construction Minister Nitin Nabin from Bankipur. Commonwealth Games gold medallist Shreyasi Singh will again contest from Jamui.

Tarapur, from where Deputy CM Samrat Chaudhary is contesting, has been a JDU stronghold since 2010. It was earlier represented by his father, Shakuni Chaudhary, then a member of the RJD.

The NDA had earlier announced its seat-sharing formula — BJP and JDU will contest 101 seats each, while LJP (Ram Vilas) gets 29, and the Rashtriya Lok Morcha and Hindustani Awam Morcha six seats each.

The NDA faces a tough contest from the Mahagathbandhan comprising the RJD, Congress, Left parties, and Mukesh Sahani’s Vikasheel Insaan Party. Political strategist Prashant Kishor will also test his electoral strength through his Jan Suraaj Party.

The two-phase Bihar Assembly election is scheduled for November 6 and 11, with counting to be held on November 14.