Ahead of the Bihar Assembly Elections 2025, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) released its final list of 44 candidates on Thursday, 16 October, completing its lineup for the polls.
The JDU, a key ally in the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), will contest on 101 seats, the same number allotted to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) under the NDA seat-sharing formula.
Party sources said the final list came after two days of intense discussions between JDU’s top leadership and NDA partners on seat distribution.
JDU Names 44 Candidates in Final List
Janata Dal United (JDU) releases the second list of candidates for the Bihar Assembly Elections. pic.twitter.com/ZJu8bCp85b
— ANI (@ANI) October 16, 2025
NDA’s Seat-Sharing Formula in Bihar Elections
Under the NDA agreement:
- JDU will contest 101 seats
- BJP will contest 101 seats
- Chirag Paswan-led LJP (Ram Vilas) will contest 29 seats
- Upendra Kushwaha’s Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) and Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) will contest six seats each
Focus on Regional and Loyal Faces
According to JDU insiders, the final list gives preference to grassroots leaders and those with a clean image and strong local connections. Nitish Kumar is reportedly focusing on consolidating support among OBCs, EBCs, and women voters, key segments that have long supported him.
The inclusion of candidates like Saba Zafar and Kaladhar Mandal also signals JDU’s attempt to strike a balance between minority outreach and caste representation, especially in sensitive constituencies.
A Tight Contest Ahead
The Bihar elections 2025 are expected to be a high-stakes battle between the NDA and the Mahagathbandhan (RJD-led alliance). Nitish Kumar’s party, which has seen several political shifts in recent years, is now betting on performance, governance, and organizational unity to retain its ground.
With both JDU and BJP finalising their candidate lists, the NDA’s campaign machinery is now fully geared up. The next few weeks will see rallies, door-to-door campaigns, and outreach programs intensify across Bihar.
