Bihar elections: JD(U) releases first list of 57 candidates; Kaushal Kishore to contest from Rajgir

A day after its alliance partner Bihar unveiled 100 names, the ruling JD(U) on Wednesday rolled out its first list of 57 candidates, setting the stage for a fierce poll battle.

According to the first list released by Nitish Kumar-led JD(U), Anant Singh is fielded from Mokama while Kaushal Kishore is fighting contest from Rajgir. Additionally, Cabinet minister Maheshwar Hazari will be contesting the polls from Kalyanpur, Ratnesh Sada from Sonbarsa and Ajay Kushwaha from Meenapur.

The list also included turncoats like Shyam Rajak, who returned to the JD(U), quitting RJD about a year ago, and don-turned politician Anant Kumar Singh, who had filed nomination papers from the Mokama assembly seat on Tuesday.


JD(U) state unit president Umesh Kushwaha has also been fielded from the Mahnar seat.

According to the seat-sharing arrangement announced earlier, the NDA has allotted 101 seats each to the BJP and JD(U). Other alliance partners, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM), and Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM), have been allotted 29, 6, and 6 seats respectively.

The Election Commission has scheduled the Bihar Assembly elections in two phases, on November 6 and 11, 2025, with counting and results to be declared on November 14, 2025.