With the Bihar Assembly elections fast approaching, the opposition INDIA bloc, led by the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Congress, is yet to finalise its seat-sharing arrangement. Despite ongoing negotiations, the RJD on Monday released its first list of candidates, announcing names for 143 constituencies. The list confirms that party leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav will contest from the Raghopur constituency in Vaishali district.
The announcement comes on the final day for filing nominations for the second phase of polling. The deadline for the first phase ended on October 17, while Monday marks the last day for withdrawal of nominations. The Congress, meanwhile, has declared 60 candidates so far.
Rift in the INDIA Bloc
Sources indicate that disagreements between the Congress and the RJD over seat distribution have delayed the alliance’s final decision. Analysts attribute the discord partly to growing differences between Tejashwi Yadav and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. As a result, the bloc has yet to present a unified front, with reports suggesting that opposition parties fielded 125 candidates for 121 seats in the first phase—reflecting a lack of coordination among partners.
The Bihar Assembly elections will be held in two phases on November 6 and 11, with vote counting scheduled for November 14. The alliance, comprising the RJD, Congress, CPI(ML-L), CPI(M), CPI, and the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP), is contesting against the ruling NDA, which seeks to retain power in the state.
RJD releases its list of candidates for the Bihar Assembly Election 2025, fielding candidates in 143 seats. RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav will contest from the Raghopur assembly seat in Vaishali district. pic.twitter.com/wSsMEj8gdm
— ANI (@ANI) October 20, 2025
In the first phase, polling will take place in 122 constituencies across 20 districts. Congress spokesperson Surendra Rajput admitted that differences exist within the INDIA bloc over seat allocation but maintained that the parties are working to resolve the issues through discussions.
The Bihar Assembly has a total of 243 seats. While the NDA aims to consolidate its rule, the INDIA bloc is striving to mount a strong challenge. Meanwhile, political strategist and Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kihor has fielded candidates from his party but reiterated that he will not contest the election himself. The results on November 14 will determine which alliance secures the political mandate in Bihar.