Nitish Kumar's Strategic Game: Muslims, Women And Crossovers In JD(U)’s Final Bihar Candidate List

Last Updated:October 16, 2025, 16:47 IST

Both JD(U) and ally BJP have now announced all their candidates, even as the opposition Mahagathbandhan struggles to finalise its seat sharing

Women are considered a core voter base for Nitish Kumar. File pic/PTI

Addressing the criticism about not giving representation to Muslims, Bihar’s ruling Janata Dal (United) has announced four Muslim candidates in its final candidate list for next month’s assembly elections. Shagufta Azim from Araria, Manzar Alam from Jokihat, Saba Zafar from Amor, and Jama Khan from Chainpur have been named as party candidates in the second list. The party had faced criticism after releasing its first list for not giving a ticket to any Muslim. JD(U) sources say that candidates’ winnability was considered, and hence some Muslim candidates who fancied their chances were not given the party symbol in the first list.

Chief minister Nitish Kumar has also kept his focus on women. Thirteen women candidates will fight on the JD(U) symbol. Women are considered a core voter base for Nitish Kumar. The second list includes the name of Vibha Devi, who had recently resigned from the Rashtriya Janata Dal. Vibha Devi will contest from Nawada. Anant Singh from Mokama is another crossover candidate from the RJD, accommodated by Nitish Kumar.

Interestingly, the JD(U) has announced candidates for some seats reportedly eyed by Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) president Chirag Paswan. JD(U) is fielding candidates in Rajgir, Sonbarsa, Alauli, Ekma, and Morwa—seats where Chirag thought his party had a strong chance. Nitish, having vacated Tarapur for deputy CM Samrat Choudhary of the Bharatiya Janata Party, was adamant about seats like Rajgir and Sonbarsa, sources said.

Battling anti-incumbency, Nitish has retained six ministers in the first list, while four ministers have made it to the second list.

Nitish has also attempted a deft balance of caste, with 37 OBC, 22 EBC, 22 General, 15 Scheduled Caste, and 1 Scheduled Tribe candidate making the final cut.

Forty-four candidates were announced on Thursday after the initial list of 57 on Wednesday. JD(U) is contesting 101 seats, the same as ally BJP. Both alliance partners have now announced all their candidates, even as the opposition Mahagathbandhan struggles to finalise its seat sharing. Sources indicated that the RJD-Congress combine had struggled to placate the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) and also the Left. While RJD wants Congress to accommodate the smaller parties from its quota, Congress is adamant on at least 60 seats.

Arunima

Arunima is Editor (Home Affairs) and covers strategic, security and political affairs. From the Ukraine-Russia War to the India-China stand-off in Ladakh to India-Pak clashes, she has reported from ground zero ...Read More

Arunima is Editor (Home Affairs) and covers strategic, security and political affairs. From the Ukraine-Russia War to the India-China stand-off in Ladakh to India-Pak clashes, she has reported from ground zero ...

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News politics Nitish Kumar's Strategic Game: Muslims, Women And Crossovers In JD(U)’s Final Bihar Candidate List

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