JD(U) Releases Second List of 44 Candidates for Bihar Assembly Polls

In a significant move ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections, the ruling Janata Dal (United) [JD(U)], under the leadership of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, officially released its second list of candidates on Thursday, October 16, 2025. This list, comprising 44 nominees, finalizes the party's electoral slate for all the seats allocated to it within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

The release of this list marks the completion of the JD(U)'s candidate selection process for the 243-seat assembly. With the first list of 57 candidates having been announced the previous day, Wednesday, the party has now named a total of 101 candidates, fulfilling its quota under the seat-sharing agreement of the NDA coalition. This strategic finalization allows the party to immediately commence a focused and unified campaign.

The second list features several prominent figures and current ministers in the state government, underscoring the party's strategy of fielding experienced incumbents. Key names from the ministerial ranks include Sheila Mandal, Vijendra Prasad Yadav, Leshi Singh, Jayant Raj, and Mohd Zama Khan. Their candidacies are aimed at leveraging their administrative experience and local influence to secure victories in their respective constituencies. Furthermore, the list includes the notable candidacy of Kaladhar Mandal from the Rupauli seat, a constituency that often draws significant attention during state polls.

The political significance of this announcement was immediately emphasized by senior party leaders. Janata Dal (United) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha confirmed that with the candidate list now complete, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will formally kick off the party's election campaign starting today. This signals a rapid transition from the planning phase to active public outreach, with the election schedule being tightly packed. The Bihar Assembly elections are scheduled to be held in two phases on November 6 and 11, 2025, leaving the parties with a narrow window for campaigning.

The consolidated list of 101 candidates represents the JD(U)'s core strategy and electoral strength across various regions of Bihar. By finalizing its candidates well before the polling dates, the party aims to provide them with ample time to connect with voters, articulate the party's manifesto, and counter the opposition's campaigns. As a key ally in the NDA, the performance of the JD(U) in these 101 seats will be crucial in determining the coalition's ability to retain power in the state. The release of these lists sets the stage for a highly competitive electoral battle in Bihar, with the ruling alliance now fully armed with its official contenders for the upcoming legislative contest.

S.No.     Vidhan Sabha (Assembly Constituency)    Candidate 

 1.     Valmikinagar                         Dhirendra Pratap Singh (Rinku Singh) 
 2.     Sikta                                      Samrudh Verma                     
 3.     Narkatiya                               Vishal Sah                        
 4.      Kasariya                                Shalini Mishra                    
 5.     Shivhar                                 Shweta Gupta                      
 6.     Sursand                               Nagendra Raut                     
 7.     Runisaidpur                          Pankaj Mishra                     
 8.      Harnakhi                               Sudhanshu Shekhar                 
 9.      Babubarhi                             Meena Kamat                       
 10.    Phulparas                            Shaila Mandal                     
 11.     Laukaha                              Satish Saha                       
 12.   Nirmali                               Aniruddha Prasad Yadav           
 13.   Pipra                                  Ram Vilas Kamat                   
14.    Supaul                                Vijendra Prasad Yadav             
 15.   Tribeniganj (S.C.)                Sonam Rani Sardar                
 16.    Raniganj (S.C.)                    Adhishtit Rishidev                
 17.    Arariya                                Shabnum Akhter                    
 18.    Jokihat                               Janab Manzar Alam                 
19.    Thakurganj                           Gopal Agrawal                     
 20.    Amour                                 Saba Zafar                        
 21.    Rupauli                               Kaladhar Mandal                   
 22.    Dhamdaha                           Leshi Singh                       
 23.    Korba                                 Dulalachand Goswami               
 24.    Manihari (S.T.)                    Shambhu Suman                     
 25.    Barari                                  Vijay Singh Nishad                
 26.    Gopalpur                              Bullo Mandal                     
 27.    Sultanganj                            Dr Lalit Narayan Mandal           
 28.    Kahalgaon                           Shivanand Mukesh                  
 29.    Amarpur                              Jayant Raj                        
 30.    Dhuraiya (S.T.)                     Manish Kumar                      
 31.    Belhar                                   Manoj Yadav                       
 32.    Chainpur                              Mohd. Zama Khan                   
 33.    Karahgar                              Bashisth Singh                    
 34.    Karakat                               Mahabali Singh                    
 35.    Nokha                                 Nagendra Chandravanshi            
 36.    Kurthi                                   Pappu Kumar Verma                 
 37.    Jehanabad                           Chandeshwar Chandravanshi         
 38.    Ghosi                                  Rituraj Kumar                     
 39.    Nabinagar                           Chetan Anand Singh                
 40.    Rafiganj                              Pramod Kumar Singh                
 41.    Belaganj                             Manorama Devi                     
 42.    Nawada                              Vibha Devi                        
 43.    Jhajha                                Damodar Rawat                     
 44.   Chakai                                Sumit Kumar Singh