The Janata Dal (United) officially released its first list of 57 candidates for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections on Wednesday, marking the start of its formal campaign process. The announcement follows extensive discussions within the party over seat-sharing arrangements under the NDA alliance.
Of the 57 candidates, four are women, highlighting the party’s commitment to inclusive representation. With the nomination deadline for the first phase only three days away, JD(U) sources revealed that discussions are ongoing to finalise the remaining seats in coordination with NDA allies.
However, the alliance has faced signs of internal tension. On Tuesday, JD(U) MP Ajay Kumar Mandal offered to resign, alleging he was denied a meeting with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, sparking speculation about discontent among party members over leadership access and internal coordination.
Meanwhile, senior BJP leaders, including Samrat Choudhary, Nityanand Rai, and Nitin Nabin, met Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) chief Upendra Kushwaha at his Patna residence on Tuesday night. The meeting reportedly addressed Kushwaha’s dissatisfaction with the seat-sharing formula. Post-discussion, Kushwaha remarked,
“This time nothing is well in NDA.”
On the opposition side, the Mahagathbandhan alliance is still finalising its seat-sharing arrangement, with negotiations ongoing among constituent parties to confirm candidate lists.
