
The first official list of 48 candidates for Bihar was revealed by the Congress party on Thursday, marking a major step ahead of the next Assembly elections. The announcement comes even as the crucial seat-sharing arrangement within the opposition Mahagathbandhan alliance has not been officially finalized, signaling the party's intent to hit the ground running.
A prominent name featured in the first list is the party's own Bihar unit president, Rajesh Ram. He has been fielded from the Kutumba assembly constituency, which is an SC-reserved seat. This action is interpreted as the party putting its faith in the state leadership to win a crucial seat. The decision underscores the importance the party is giving to the constituency and its confidence in Ram's candidacy.
Following the announcement, Rajesh Ram took to social media to express his gratitude and outline his campaign strategy. He thanked the top leadership of the Congress party for the nomination. In his post, he stated, “I assure them that I will not contest this election alone, but the entire Kutumba family will fight together.” He further added that they would collectively contribute to forming a Mahagathbandhan government in the state, firmly aligning his campaign with the broader opposition alliance's goal.
The first list of 48 candidates includes several other notable figures who will be contesting from various key constituencies across Bihar. The party has strategically named its candidates for seats including Muzaffarpur, Gopalganj, and Aurangabad. Some of the other candidates are:
The timing of this list is a key point of interest. It was released despite the fact that the seat-sharing agreement among the Mahagathbandhan partners is still under negotiation. By announcing its candidates early, the Congress is demonstrating its preparedness and may be seeking to set the tempo for its campaign. A day prior to the official list, the party's Bihar unit had already begun unveiling candidate names and photos of them receiving their nomination certificates on its social media handles, building momentum for the electoral battle ahead.
Disclaimer: This news report is based on official announcements and public statements as of the release date.