Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal (United) [JD(U)] is strategically emphasizing Other Backward Classes (OBC) and introducing fresh faces in its candidate selection for the upcoming Bihar elections. The party has now released the names of all 101 candidates it will field in the Assembly elections.

OBC Outreach

Recognizing the critical role of caste dynamics in Bihar politics, the JD(U)'s list reflects a clear attempt to consolidate its position by appealing to OBC voters. Out of the 101 seats, 37 have been allocated to OBC candidates, with a significant portion going to the "Lav-Kush" community, comprising 13 Kushwahas and 12 Kurmis, along with eight Yadav candidates. Furthermore, the party has nominated 22 candidates from Extremely Backward Classes (EBC), its largest support base. This strategic allocation demonstrates the JD(U)'s focus on strengthening its social justice platform and ensuring representation for key voter segments.

New Faces and Strategic Nominations

In its initial list of 57 candidates, the JD(U) introduced 30 new faces alongside 27 incumbents. This infusion of fresh talent signals the party's intent to rejuvenate its ranks and potentially appeal to younger voters. The party has also strategically accommodated turncoats and their family members and successfully negotiated for key seats through seat-sharing arrangements with alliance partners.

Caste and Community Representation

The JD(U)'s candidate list reflects a careful balancing act to represent various social groups. In addition to the significant OBC and EBC representation, 15 seats have been allocated to Scheduled Caste (SC) candidates and one to Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidates. Among the general category candidates, a maximum of 10 have been given to Rajputs, nine to Bhumihars, two to Brahmins, and one to Kayasth. However, the initial list of 57 candidates notably lacked Muslim representation. The second list included four ministers from the Muslim community.

Key Candidates and Ministers

Several prominent figures have secured nominations, including sitting Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) such as Shalini Mishra from Kesaria, Shweta Gupta from Sheohar, and Leshi Singh from Dhamdaha. The list also includes ministers like Shravan Kumar (Nalanda), Vijay Kumar Chaudhary (Sarairanjan), and Maheshwar Hazari (Kalyanpur).

Strategic Considerations

The JD(U)'s candidate selection also reveals strategic considerations related to its alliance dynamics. The party has fielded candidates in constituencies previously contested by Chirag Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), indicating a firm stance within the NDA. This move could potentially lead to heightened political tensions between the two parties.

The Bihar Assembly elections will be held in two phases on November 6 and November 11, with the counting of votes scheduled for November 14.