Tomorrow is the last date for withdrawal of nominations for the first phase of the Bihar Assembly elections, covering 121 constituencies in 18 districts. Out of the 2496 nomination papers filed by candidates from various parties and independents, 487 have been rejected, while 2,009 have been found valid. The final number of candidates remaining in the fray will become clear after the completion of the withdrawal process.
Meanwhile, the nomination process for 122 assembly constituencies across 20 districts will conclude tomorrow for the second phase. So far a total of 1,066 nomination papers have been filed for this phase. Candidates can withdraw their nominations for the second phase until 23rd October. Polling for all 243 assembly seats in Bihar will be held in two phases on 6th November and 11th November.
After the nomination deadline for the first phase ended, differences within the Grand Alliance – comprising the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Congress, and Left parties – have widened. In several constituencies, candidates from Grand Alliance partners are contesting against each other. For the 121 seats, the number of Mahagathbandhan candidates who filed nominations exceeds the total number of constituencies. To resolve this issue, the Congress has urged RJD leader and chairman of the Grand Alliance’s election coordination committee, Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, to take the initiative. However, due to overlapping claims on some constituencies, a joint list could not be released by the opposition coalition.
The NDA, on the other hand, has announced candidates for all its seats among its five constituent parties.
