The Muslim candidates in the second list are Manzar Alam (Jokihat), Jama Khan (Chainpur), Saba Zafar (Aamour), and Shagufta Azim (Araria). The move is seen as a course correction after the party's first list, which featured no Muslim candidates.
PATNA — The Janata Dal (United) on Thursday released its second list of candidates for the upcoming Bihar Assembly Elections 2025.
The party has now finalised its candidates for all 101 constituencies, quota allocated to it under the National Democratic Alliance (NDA)’s seat-sharing formula. Earlier, the JD(U) had released its first list that included the names of 57 candidates.
The second list features several prominent figures. Dharendra Pratap Singh, popularly known as Rinku Singh, has been fielded from Valmikinagar, while Sammridh Verma will contest from Sikta. Vishal Shah has been nominated from Narkatiya, Shalini Mishra from Kesariya, Shweta Gupta from Shivhar, and Nagendra Raut from Sursand, among several others.
With this second list, the party has now intensified its election preparations.
Other names include Shweta Gupta (Sheohar), Pankaj Mishra (Runnisaidpur), Sudhanshu Shekhar (Harlakhi), Meena Kamat (Babubarhi), Sheela Mandal (Phulparas), Satish Sah (Laukaha), Aniruddh Prasad Yadav (Nirmali), Vijendra Prasad Yadav (Supaul), Bulo Mandal (Gopalpur), Lalit Narayan Mandal (Sultanganj), Manorama Devi (Belaganj), Chetan Anand (Navinagar) and Vibha Devi (Nawada).
Vibha Devi, who recently quit the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) to join the JD(U), has been nominated from the Nawada Assembly constituency, according to media reports.
Significantly, the JD(U) has included four Muslim candidates in this list – a move seen as a course correction after the party’s first list, which featured no Muslim candidates, drew criticism.
Shagufta Azim will contest from Araria, Manzar Alam from Jokihat, Saba Zafar from Aamro, and Jama Khan from Chainpur.
Political observers note that this inclusion of Muslim candidates indicates Nitish Kumar’s effort to retain minority support and balance the NDA’s overall social outreach, especially after the BJP’s candidate lists excluded Muslim names altogether.
The inclusion of seasoned faces like Leshi Singh and Mahabali Singh alongside younger leaders such as Shweta Gupta and Samridh Verma suggests the party’s attempt to appeal to both rural and urban voters.
The party’s next focus will be on grassroots mobilisation and campaign coordination across all constituencies.
Bihar will vote in two phases – November 6 and November 11, with results to be declared on November 14. — With inputs from IANS
