The Bihar Assembly election season has kicked off with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) unveiling its first list of 71 candidates, setting the tone for a fiercely contested political battle. The announcement, made on October 14, 2025, features a strategic mix of seasoned leaders, sitting ministers, and emerging faces. Among the most prominent names is Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary, who will contest from the Tarapur Assembly seat—a constituency that previously slipped from the BJP’s grasp in the 2021 bypolls. This move underscores the party’s resolve to reclaim lost ground and strengthen its hold across key regions of Bihar.
The first list also reflects the BJP’s efforts to balance leadership visibility with organizational strength. By fielding top ministers and trusted party figures, the BJP signals confidence in its governance record and seeks to build a narrative around continuity and stability. The inclusion of nine women candidates further highlights an attempt—though modest—to expand female representation in the state’s political landscape. Each nomination is not just a name on paper but a tactical placement intended to maximize the party’s electoral outreach and regional appeal.
As the campaign intensifies, the BJP’s initial list offers a glimpse into the party’s strategy: blending administrative experience, strong local presence, and representational diversity. With the Janata Dal (United) and other allies watching closely, this first rollout is more than a procedural announcement—it is a signal of intent and preparation for an election expected to shape Bihar’s political direction for the next five years.
Samrat Chaudhary to contest from Tarapur
Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary’s candidacy from Tarapur is the headline move of the BJP’s first list. Tarapur, which was won by the JD(U)’s Rajeev Kumar Singh in the 2021 bypoll, now becomes a high-stakes battleground for the ruling coalition. Chaudhary’s nomination is both symbolic and strategic: as the state’s Deputy CM and one of the most visible OBC leaders in the party, his presence adds weight to the BJP’s campaign narrative and positions him as a central figure in the party’s Bihar strategy.
Chaudhary’s track record in organizational work and his growing influence within Bihar’s political framework make him a crucial face for the BJP. Contesting from Tarapur also sends a signal to rival parties that the BJP is ready to contest on every front, including seats where it faced setbacks in the past. The choice reflects the party’s confidence in Chaudhary’s ability to mobilize grassroots support and convert visibility into electoral success.
The Tarapur contest will likely become a focal point of the BJP’s campaign trail, with the party aiming to reclaim the seat as a symbolic victory. For Chaudhary, this election could serve as both a test of his political mettle and an opportunity to consolidate his standing as a leading figure in Bihar’s next generation of state leadership.
Ministers to defend key constituencies
The BJP’s list also features a series of ministers who have been tasked with defending their constituencies, signaling the leadership’s trust in proven performers. Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha will contest from Lakhisarai, the seat he has represented and nurtured for years. Similarly, Road Construction Minister Nitin Nabin will defend his Bankipur seat—an urban constituency where the BJP has traditionally maintained a strong voter base. Both leaders have been central to the party’s administrative and electoral strategies in Bihar.
By renominating sitting ministers, the BJP appears to be leveraging incumbency as an advantage rather than a liability. The party believes that governance experience, visible infrastructure development, and familiarity with constituents will play a pivotal role in retaining these seats. This approach contrasts with opposition strategies that often emphasize anti-incumbency and the need for new faces.
However, the decision also carries calculated risks. Ministers who have held office for extended periods must counter local dissatisfaction and ensure their governance achievements resonate with voters. The BJP’s strategy will revolve around converting ministerial experience into campaign momentum—an approach that could either reinforce its credibility or expose its vulnerabilities depending on electoral outcomes.
Women candidates in focus
The inclusion of nine women candidates in the BJP’s first list marks a notable, though limited, step toward gender inclusion in Bihar’s electoral politics. Among them is Renu Devi, the Minister for Animal and Fisheries Resources, who will contest from Bettiah. Her presence, along with that of other women nominees such as Sweety Singh (Kishanganj), Gayatri Devi (Parihar), and Aruna Devi (Warsaliganj), reflects the party’s intent to showcase female leadership in both urban and rural constituencies.
These nominations are strategically distributed across regions, highlighting the BJP’s focus on balancing regional representation with gender diversity. Many of these women leaders hold strong local reputations, which the party hopes will translate into voter trust and wider engagement from female electorates—a crucial voting bloc in Bihar’s electoral math.
While the figure of nine may seem modest, it’s part of a broader narrative that the BJP is attempting to craft: an image of inclusivity, empowerment, and renewal within its candidate base. Success for these women candidates could pave the way for greater female representation in future elections and reinforce the party’s commitment to social inclusion.
Full list of BJP candidates (first list of 71)
The BJP’s first candidate list for the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections covers diverse regions and constituencies, blending political veterans, organizational leaders, and new entrants. Below is the full list of candidates announced so far.
| Sr. No. | Constituency | Candidate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bettiah | Renu Devi |
| 2 | Raxaul | Pramod Kumar Sinha |
| 3 | Pipra | Shyambabu Prasad Yadav |
| 4 | Madhuban | Rana Randhir Singh |
| 5 | Motihari | Pramod Kumar |
| 6 | Dhaka | Pawan Jaiswal |
| 7 | Riga | Baidyanath Prasad |
| 8 | Bathnaha (SC) | Anil Kumar Ram |
| 9 | Parihar | Gayatri Devi |
| 10 | Sitamarhi | Sunil Kumar Pintu |
| 11 | Benipatti | Vinod Narayan Jha |
| 12 | Khajauli | Arun Shankar Prasad |
| 13 | Bisfi | Haribhushan Thakur Bachaul |
| 14 | Rajnagar (SC) | Sujeet Paswan |
| 15 | Jhanjharpur | Nitish Mishra |
| 16 | Chhatapur | Neeraj Kumar Singh Bablu |
| 17 | Narpatganj | Devanti Yadav |
| 18 | Forbesganj | Vidya Sagar Keshri |
| 19 | Sikti | Vijay Kumar Mandal |
| 20 | Kishanganj | Sweety Singh |
| 21 | Banmankhi (SC) | Krishna Kumar Rishi |
| 22 | Purnia | Vijay Kumar Khemka |
| 23 | Katihar | Tarkishore Prasad |
| 24 | Pranpur | Nisha Singh |
| 25 | Korha (SC) | Kavita Devi |
| 26 | Saharsa | Alok Ranjan Jha |
| 27 | Gaura Bauram | Sujit Kumar Singh |
| 28 | Darbhanga | Sanjay Saraogi |
| 29 | Keoti | Murari Mohan Jha |
| 30 | Jale | Jibesh Kumar Mishra |
| 31 | Aurai | Rama Nishad |
| 32 | Kurhani | Kedar Prasad Gupta |
| 33 | Baruraj | Arun Kumar Singh |
| 34 | Sahebganj | Raju Kumar Singh |
| 35 | Baikunthpur | Mithilesh Tiwari |
| 36 | Siwan | Mangal Pandey |
| 37 | Daraundha | Karnjeet Singh |
| 38 | Goriyakothi | Devesh Kant Singh |
| 39 | Taraiya | Janak Singh |
| 40 | Amnour | Krishan Kumar Mantoo |
| 41 | Hajipur | Awadhesh Singh |
| 42 | Lalganj | Sanjay Kumar Singh |
| 43 | Patepur (SC) | Lakhendra Kumar Raushan |
| 44 | Mohiuddinnagar | Rajesh Kumar Singh |
| 45 | Bachhwara | Surendra Mehta |
| 46 | Teghra | Rajnish Kumar |
| 47 | Begusarai | Kundan Kumar |
| 48 | Bhagalpur | Rohit Pandey |
| 49 | Banka | Ram Narayan Mandal |
| 50 | Katoria (ST) | Puran Lal Tudu |
| 51 | Tarapur | Samrat Chaudhary |
| 52 | Munger | Kumar Pranay |
| 53 | Lakhisarai | Vijay Kumar Sinha |
| 54 | Biharsharif | Sunil Kumar |
| 55 | Digha | Sanjiv Chaurasia |
| 56 | Bankipur | Nitin Nabin |
| 57 | Kumhrar | Sanjay Gupta |
| 58 | Patna Sahib | Ratnesh Kushwaha |
| 59 | Danapur | Ramkripal Yadav |
| 60 | Bikram | Siddharth Saurav |
| 61 | Barhara | Raghvendra Pratap Singh |
| 62 | Arrah | Sanjay Singh “Tiger” |
| 63 | Tarari | Vishal Prashant |
| 64 | Arwal | Manoj Sharma |
| 65 | Aurangabad | Trivikram Singh |
| 66 | Gurua | Upendra Dangi |
| 67 | Gaya Town | Prem Kumar |
| 68 | Wazirganj | Birendra Singh |
| 69 | Hisua | Anil Singh |
| 70 | Warsaliganj | Aruna Devi |
| 71 | Jamui | Shreyasi Singh |
The list captures the BJP’s opening salvo in Bihar’s 2025 political race, showcasing experience, regional balance, and renewed efforts to diversify representation. More lists are expected in the coming weeks as alliances and campaign strategies evolve.
Also Read: Top 5 Longest Trains in the World That Redefine Travel
About the Author:
Harshit Raj
