- BJP releases second Bihar list with 12 candidates, 9 new faces
- Folk singer Maithili Thakur to contest from Alinagar
- Former IPS officer Anand Mishra fielded from Buxar
- BJP drops several sitting MLAs, signalling generational shift
GG News Bureau
Patna, 15th Oct: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday released its second list of 12 candidates for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, featuring popular folk singer Maithili Thakur, who will contest from Alinagar in the Mithilanchal region.
Thakur’s entry into electoral politics is being seen as a strategic move by the BJP to connect with young voters and strengthen its base in north Bihar. “I am very impressed with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. I wish to serve society and promote Maithili traditions through public service,” she said after joining the party on Tuesday.
The BJP has introduced nine new faces in this list, indicating a clear push for renewal within its Bihar unit. Former IPS officer Anand Mishra has been fielded from Buxar, while Chhoti Kumari will contest from Chhapra and Virendra Kumar from Rosera.
Two sitting MLAs — Ramchandra Prasad (Hayaghat) and Birendra Kumar (Rosera) — have been retained. However, several sitting MLAs, including Gyanendra Singh Gyanu (Barh), C.N. Gupta (Chhapra), and Kusum Devi (Gopalganj), have been dropped.
Other new names in the list include Ranjan Kumar, Subhash Singh, Kedarnath Singh, Siyaram Singh, Mahesh Paswan, and Rakesh Ojha, who will contest from Shahpur.
Political observers view the BJP’s decision to induct high-profile newcomers and diverse candidates as an attempt to counter Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party (JSP) strategy of fielding non-traditional faces, including professionals and retired individuals.
