Bihar election 2025: It is the first phase of polling in Bihar today, where prestige, honour, might and future of many leaders are at stake. The battle of Bihar so far has been a rapid ride for all – from alliance formation, seat sharing, candidates announcement to campaigning. Was it all fruitful? The ultimate deciders, the voters of Bihar will make their final call for 121 constituencies today.
But eyes will be on some faces who represent their parties’ strength and prowess, perhaps, more than the others. Seven such battlegrounds will be on everyone’s list who is keenly watching the Bihar assembly election 2025. From Tejashwi, Tej Pratap to Anant Singh and Samrat Choudhary – a number of big horses are in fray today.
Bihar assembly election 2025: 7 key fights to watch for
Raghopur: Tejashwi Yadav (RJD) vs Satish Kumar (BJP)
The Raghopur battle is a personal one. Decades of RJD strongholds have to be defended, and up against incumbent Tejashwi Yadav is BJP’s Satish Kumar. Lalu Prasad Yadav won the seat in 1995 and 2000. After him, his wife Rabri Devi emerged victorious from the constituency. TAnd the seat has been with Tejashwi Yadav since 2015.
The RJD had to taste defeat when JD(U)’s Satish Kumar defeated Rabri Devi by 13,006 votes in 2010. But Tejashwi took revenge in the next elections in 2015. He again defeated Satish Kumar in 2020 and now with the BJP, Kumar is challenging Tejashwi for the third time.
Tarapur: Samrat Choudhary (BJP) vs Arun Shah (RJD)
The importance of a name and seat in election is measures in the trouble the party would be in if the person loses. Such is his identity in Bihar politics. Currently the Deputy CM of Bihar, Samrat Chouhdary is a mighty name on the ballot, and against him is RJD’s Arun Shah.
As for the seat of Tarapur, it has changed sides with time. The seat has been with the JDU since 2010 when Neeta Choudhary won it, followed by Mewa Lal Choudhary in 2015 and 2020. Now, it is Smarat Choudhary, amidst over 10 candidates in fray making it an intense electoral combat.
Mahua: Tej Pratap Yadav (JJD) vs Mukesh Raushan (RJD)
Winning is crucial for Tej Pratap Yadav. The outcast member of the Lalu Yadav family, who has had no family support throughout the campaigning. His party, Janshakti Janata Dal (JJD) (composition of five regional parties – Vikas Vanchit Insaan Party (VVIP), Bhojpuria Jan Morcha (BJM), Pragatisheel Janata Party (PJP), Wazib Adhikar Party (WAP), and the Sanyukt Kisan Vikas Party), with much at stake. He is contesting in Phase 1 today.
He was expelled from the RJD for “irresponsible behaviour” and deviation from the party’s core values. It was after a huge drama over his now-deleted Facebook post, in which he claimed to have been in a 12-year relationship with a woman.
He held this seat in 2015 and now is contesting again to reclaim his old charm as a leader, and lost honour perhaps in his family.
Alinagar: Maithili Thakur (BJP) vs Binod Mishra (RJD)
Gone popular from her stronghold on folk songs and devotional music, Maithili Thakur is contesting her first election many dream to be at her age. The 25-year-old joined the BJP in October when the BJP announced its first list of 71 candidates. She has mounted her campaign on the works of PM Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, and on renaming the very constituency she is fighting from – Alinagar.
As for the seat, it has been a RJD bastion as Abdul Bari Siddiqui won it seven times before losing it to Vikassheel Insaan Party’s Mishri Lal Yadav in 2020. The margin was slight more than 3000. The saffron party’s gamble with Maithili Thakur against RJD will be an interesting battle to monitor.
Mokama: Anant Kumar Singh (JDU) vs Veena Devi (RJD)
A strongman Bahubali leader, Anant Singh had won the polls four times. However, the victories were with different loyalties. In 2010, he was with the JDU, but in 2015 he went independent after being denied a ticket. Then come 2020, RJD fielded him and he won.
But cases and controversies played their role and Singh went back to JD(U). Now, against him is Veena Devi from a party that handed him his biggest victory, the RJD.
Lakhisarai: Vijay Kumar Sinha (BJP) vs Suraj Kumar (JSP)
With two Deputy Chief Ministers, the BJP has two big battles ahead. Apart from Samrat Chouhdary, BJP’s Vijay Kumar Sinha also had the task to prove his and the party’s might in the VIP seat of Lakhisarai. Sinha has won the polls since 2015 and the seat has remained with the BJP since 2010.
In short, the battle is for the Prashant Kishor-led JSP’s Suraj Kumar to wrest Sinha from power in the very ground that made him what he is today.
Patna Sahib: Shashant Shekhar (Congress) vs Ratnesh Kushwaha (BJP)
A complete urban belt, Patna Sahib is the heart of the state’s capital city, and one of the most prestigious seats for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), who has had it for decades. The saffron party’s Nand Kishore Yadav has been the constituency’s one of the longest-serving legislators.
Now the BJP has shown trust in a new face – Ratnesh Kushwaha, a 45-year-old lawyer. And the Congress has fielded 35-year-old new entrant, Shashant Shekhar.
