The Congress party announced its second list of candidates for the Bihar Assembly elections. The list, released on Saturday, October 18, 2025, includes five nominees for key constituencies.
The candidates named in the second list are Shaswat Pandey from Narkatiaganj, Jitender Yadav from Purnia, Mohammad Qamrul Hoda from Kishanganj, Mohammad Irfan Alam from Kasba, and Mohan Shrivastava from Gaya Town. These selections indicate an effort to combine youth engagement with experienced leadership in strategically important constituencies.
Earlier in the week, Congress had released its initial list, which included 48 candidates featuring prominent leaders. Rajesh Ram, the State Congress president, is set to compete from the Kutumba constituency, while Shakeel Ahmad Khan, the CLP leader, has been nominated from Kadwa. Additionally, Prakash Garib Das, the Bihar Youth Congress chief, will contest from Bachhwada, Jayesh Mangal Singh from Bagaha, and Amit Giri from Nautan.
The Mahagathbandhan, which includes the RJD and Congress, has faced challenges in finalizing a seat-sharing arrangement for the first phase of the polls. Reports indicate "friendly fights" between alliance partners in certain constituencies. BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari commented on the situation, alleging internal conflicts within the Mahagathbandhan. He claimed that the Mahagathbandhan is facing a massive internal tug-of-war, with RJD workers allegedly fighting against Congress workers on the ground.
Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor weighed in on the electoral landscape, suggesting that the INDIA alliance is likely to finish third. He posited that the main contest is between the NDA and Jan Suraaj.
Adding to the complexity, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) has announced its decision to contest six Bihar seats independently, rather than as part of the Mahagathbandhan. The JMM general secretary and spokesperson, Supriyo Bhattacharya, stated that the party will contest from Dhamdaha, Chakai, Katoria, Manihari, Jamui, and Pirpainti.
The Bihar Assembly elections, encompassing 243 seats, are scheduled to be held in two phases. Polling for the first phase will take place on November 6, followed by the second phase on November 11. The results are expected to be announced on November 14.
