Bihar Election 2025 Highlights: ‘Bihar getting a chance to celebrate four Diwalis’ – Amit Shah confident of forming govt with ‘biggest majority’

CPI(ML) candidate Divya Gautam, cousin of the late Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput, files her nomination for the upcoming Bihar Assembly polls from Digha seat.

She says, “Our focus will remain on issues like unemployment, women’s safety, and more. People are dissatisfied here, and we will raise their concerns.”

Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren said that his party JMM met today and discussed election and bye-election.

“We have announced Somesh Soren as our candidate for the by-election,” he said.

Bihar Congress Chief Rajesh Ram on seat-sharing talks says, “Discussions were pending on 10 seats; came to Delhi for the final round of talks.”

BJP has announced second list of 12 candidates for the Bihar elections. Folk singer Maithili Thakur has been given ticket from Alinagar.

AIMIM State President Akhtarul Iman says, “Today, our alliance has been formed with the Azad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram)… The coming together of our three parties will have a positive impact on Bihar’s politics”.

On the question of whether Mukesh Sahani is in the Grand Alliance or not, Bihar Congress CLP leader Shakeel Ahmed Khan says, “We will tell everything in Patna. Now there is no time left; whatever has to happen will happen today.”

On Bihar elections & seat sharing in Mahagathbandhan, RJD leader Mrityunjay Tiwari says, “Talks about seat sharing have taken place in a harmonious manner, and very soon we will make an announcement on this. On the other hand, there is a huge tension in NDA..Tejashwi is fighting for social justice and providing govt jobs to every household…”

After filing nominations, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav says, “The people of Raghopur have shown trust in me twice. This is the third time I have filed my nomination from Raghopur. We have a resolve that every family in Bihar should have one government job. We have to eradicate unemployment from Bihar. We have to take Bihar forward. We not only want to form our government, but we also want Bihar to become prosperous. Some people were making claims that I will contest elections on two seats. Tejashwi Yadav is contesting on all 243 seats. I have been contesting election in Raghopur and I will keep doing the same…”

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav files his nomination from Raghopur Assembly seat in the presence of his parents, RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav and former CM Rabri Devi.

On the seat sharing in NDA for Bihar elections, Congress leader Manickam Tagore says, “BJP is eating away the alliance partners. They are finishing Nitish Kumar and Upendra Singh Kushwaha. They are also finishing other parties in the alliance. It is in the DNA of the BJP to finish the friends who have been with them.”

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav arrives at the Hajipur collectorate to file his nomination from Raghopur Assembly seat. His parents, RJD supremo Lalu Yadav and former CM Rabri Devi accompany him.

Notably, the RJD or any of the INDIA bloc party has not released list of candidates yet.

Bihar Deputy CM Vijay Sinha files nomination from Lakhisarai, accompanied by Delhi CM Rekha Gupta, Union minister Giriraj Singh and Bihar Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary.

Union Minister Giriraj Singh responds to Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor’s remark that a “tally of less than 150 seats will be considered a defeat.”

He said, “Mungerilal ke Haseen Sapne ko dekhne me kya mana hai,’… He is RJD’s B team.”

On Prashant Kishor saying he will not contest elections himself, he adds: “He knows that he will not win.”

On election result predictions, he says: “I am telling you, 225 seats will come this time and the 2010 record will be broken.”

Opposition RJD on Wednesday took a dig at poll strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor over his decision not to contest the Bihar assembly elections, saying “he had accepted defeat for his Jan Suraaj Party even before going to the battlefield.”

JD(U) has announced its first list of 57 candidates for Bihar assembly elections.

BJP announces candidates for by-poll on 5 seats in 3 states.

Jammu and Kashmir

Budgam: Aga Syed Mohsin

Nagrota: Devyani Rana

Jharkhand

Ghatsila (ST): Babulal Soren

Odisha

Nuapada: Jay Dholakia

Telangana

Jubilee Hills: Lankala Deepak Reddy

On speculation about his wife contesting the elections, Bhojpuri Actor Khesarilal Yadav says, “She’s arguing with me right now, and I’m trying to convince her to run in the election…”

On the ongoing reports of rift within the NDA, BJP State President Dilip Kumar Jaiswal said, “The seat allocation, and constituency-wise decisions have been discussed among all parties. After discussions, each party is announcing its candidates. As Dharmendra Pradhan mentioned, in cases requiring mutual agreement for one or two seats, decisions were finalized overnight. Out of 242 seats, mutual consensus has been reached wherever needed…”

Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor challenges Samrat Choudhary, says, “From Jan Suraaj, a big doctor is contesting elections against Class 7th fail Samrat Choudhary. This time, Samrat Choudhary is going to get defeated in Tarapur…”

Expressing dissatisfaction over the seat-sharing arrangement within the ruling NDA in Bihar ahead of the assembly polls, Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) chief and Rajya Sabha MP Upendra Kushwaha on Wednesday said, “This time, nothing is well in NDA.”

According to reports, Congress has asked for 65 seats for Bihar elections, while the RJD is agreeing to only 55. The seat-sharing is yet to be finalised in the Mahagathbandhan.

Enforcement agencies have seized cash, drugs, alcohol, and other freebies worth Rs 33.97 crore in Bihar ahead of the state elections, as part of efforts to stop political parties from bribing voters. The EC said on Wednesday that since the elections were announced on October 6, various enforcement agencies have carried out operations leading to the seizure of items valued at Rs 33.97 crore.

Soon after the BJP-led NDA finalised its seat-sharing plan for the Bihar elections, Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) chief and Rajya Sabha MP Upendra Kushwaha voiced his dissatisfaction over the seats allotted to his party. After the BJP announced 71 candidates out of its 101-seat quota, Kushwaha, along with Union Minister Nityanand Rai, met BJP leader and Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary at his home late on Tuesday. Following the meeting, Kushwaha’s comments to the media suggested a possible rift in the NDA just ahead of the elections. Kushwaha said, “This time, nothing is well in NDA.” Meanwhile, Samrat Chaudhary avoided answering questions from reporters after the meeting.

Prashant Kishor has said that he will not be contesting in the upcoming Bihar elections in November. He said that this is the Jan Suraaj Party’s decision, and that he will instead focus on building and strengthening the party.

Congress has alleged internal discord within the NDA as Bihar assembly elections approach. Speaking to reporters, national spokesperson Abhay Dubey said BJP’s partial candidate list indicated friction in the alliance. “Nitish Kumar is neither meeting journalists nor his own party leaders. One of his MPs, Ajay Kumar Mandal, has resigned as he was not allowed to meet the CM. Another MLA, Gopal Mandal, was sitting outside the CM’s residence. Where is the CM of Bihar? Why is he not interacting publicly?” he questioned. Dubey also criticised the marginal allocation of six seats to Jitan Ram Manjhi’s HAM. Meanwhile, the Mahagathbandhan is reportedly finalising its seat-sharing arrangement, likely to be announced by Wednesday morning.

Top Congress leaders on Tuesday held a crucial meeting of the Central Election Committee (CEC) to discuss probable candidates for the Bihar Assembly elections. “Today, in the presence of Congress President Shri Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition Shri Rahul Gandhi, and Congress General Secretary (Organization) Shri K C Venugopal, an important meeting of the Central Election Committee (CEC) related to the Bihar Legislative Assembly elections was held. Senior leaders of the Bihar Congress were present in this meeting,” the party said on X. Over 50 candidates were discussed ahead of the likely Mahagathbandhan seat-sharing announcement. Assembly polls will be held in two phases on November 6 and 11, with counting on November 14.

Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) on Tuesday announced its candidates for all six seats allocated as part of the NDA in the Bihar Assembly elections. The list includes four sitting MLAs: Deepa Manjhi (Imamganj), her mother Jyoti Devi (Barachatti), Anil Kumar (Tekari), and Prafull Kumar Manjhi (Sikandra). The remaining two candidates are Romit Kumar (Atri) and Lalan Ram (Kutumba), who will contest against Congress state president Rajesh Kumar. Most seats, except Tekari and Atri, are reserved for Scheduled Castes. Manjhi, also MSME Minister, represents Gaya in Lok Sabha. Polling is set for November 6 and 11, with counting on November 14.

BJP MP Sanjay Jaiswal dismissed rumours of differences within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) following seat distribution for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections. “The NDA alliance is completely united, as evident from the way our seats have been announced. By tonight, a final decision will also be made regarding the remaining seats. I am fully confident that we will cross the 200-seat mark in this assembly election,” he said. Jaiswal praised the first list of 71 BJP candidates, highlighting the mix of prominent leaders and new faces to bring fresh energy to the polls.

As he arrives for CEC meeting, Bihar Congress president Rajesh Ram says, “Everything only after the meeting. Thank you.”

After joining BJP, folk and devotional singer Maithili Thakur says, “I am very impressed with the PM and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar. Drawing inspiration from them, I am here to support them…I do not believe that joining a political party makes you a politician; I am here to serve society and take their ideology to each and every person…I am the daughter of Mithila, my soul resides in Mithila…Party will know what they have in mind for me; I am here just to support them. I will do whatever the party orders.”