The ruling National Democratic Alliance in Bihar has decided to field 129 repeat candidates from the 2020 assembly elections, while introducing 114 new faces across member parties. This strategy includes bringing back 37 candidates who lost five years ago. The BJP leads with 66 repeat candidates, of whom 54 were winners in 2020, while dropping 20 previous winners. The Janata Dal (United), led by Nitish Kumar, has balanced its ticket distribution with 51 new and 50 repeat candidates. The alliance composition itself has shifted, with the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) and Rashtriya Lok Morcha joining the coalition this time, while Vikassheel Insaan Party moved to the opposition. Seat-sharing adjustments have resulted in 49 seats changing hands within the alliance. The NDA appears focused on overcoming narrow losses from 2020, when the Mahagathbandhan fell just short of a majority.
BJP and JD(U) Candidate Selection Strategy
The Bharatiya Janata Party has fielded 35 new candidates while repeating 66 from the 2020 polls. Among those repeated, 54 had won previously, but the party has surprisingly dropped 20 winning candidates despite securing 74 seats last time. Additionally, the BJP has given tickets to 12 candidates who lost in 2020. The JD(U) has adopted an equal approach, fielding 51 new faces alongside 50 repeat candidates. Of the repeats, 33 were winners from their 2020 tally of 43 seats, while 17 had lost. Both the BJP and JD(U) are contesting 101 seats each in the current election cycle, maintaining their position as the alliance's principal partners.
Alliance Expansion and Seat Redistribution
The inclusion of LJP(RV) and RLM has reshaped the NDA's seat-sharing arrangement, with 49 seats switching between alliance partners. The Chirag Paswan-led LJP(RV) is contesting 29 seats now, a drastic reduction from 143 in 2020 when it fought as the undivided party. Despite winning only one seat then, it reportedly damaged several JD(U) candidates' prospects. The party has received 11 seats from JD(U) and 10 from BJP. The Upendra Kushwaha-led RLM, which contested 104 seats in 2020 without success, now fights just 6 seats as an NDA partner. The Jitan Ram Manjhi-led HAM(S) is contesting 6 seats, repeating three winners and fielding two new candidates.
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