Bihar's first phase of Assembly elections is scheduled for Thursday, November 6, covering 121 constituencies concentrated in central Bihar. In the previous 2020 Assembly polls, the Mahagathbandhan had narrowly edged ahead with 61 seats compared to the NDA's 59 seats in these same constituencies. The vote share was similarly tight, with Mahagathbandhan securing 38.06% and NDA obtaining 37.69%. However, in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the NDA led in 95 Assembly segments among these first-phase seats, while Mahagathbandhan was ahead in only 25 segments. This election marks the debut of Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj party. Alliance compositions have shifted since 2020, with LJP(RV) and RLM joining NDA, while VIP has aligned with the Opposition. The Mahagathbandhan will face 'friendly fights' in five seats where multiple alliance partners are contesting against each other.
Candidate Profile and Key Electoral Battlegrounds
Among the 121 seats going to polls, 19 are SC-reserved. A significant 354 candidates (27%) face serious criminal cases, including charges of murder and crimes against women. RJD leads with 76% of its candidates having criminal cases, followed by the Left at 95% and BJP at 65%. Regarding wealth, 81 Jan Suraaj candidates (71%) are crorepatis, while RJD has 97% crorepati candidates. BJP's Kumar Pranay from Munger is the richest candidate with assets worth Rs 170.82 crore. Key contests include Raghopur featuring ex-Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav against Satish Kumar, Mokama with bahubali politician Anant Kumar Singh, and Chapra where Bhojpuri actor Khesari Lal Yadav faces multiple challengers.
Source: Link