In the run-up to Bihar Election 2025, Congress releases its first list of 53 candidates amid unresolved seat-sharing talks with RJD. As nomination deadlines close in, the Grand Alliance faces internal strains ahead of a high-stakes battle.
By Qalam Times News Network | Patna | October 17, 2025
Bihar Election 2025 and the Unfinished Alliance Puzzle
Bihar Election 2025 — that’s where the political suspense is thickening. With the seat-sharing arrangement within the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) still unresolved, the Congress on Wednesday released its first list of 53 candidates for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections.
As the deadline for filing nominations for the first phase loomed on October 17, the Congress moved quickly to end speculation around its candidates. According to party sources cited by The Indian Express, a panel led by senior leader Ajay Maken approved names for eight constituencies and placed nine others on hold due to pending internal negotiations.
Seat-Sharing in Bihar Election 2025 Remains Contentious
The Bihar Election 2025 alliance dynamics between the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Congress — the two largest constituents of the INDIA bloc in the state — continue to face friction over seat-sharing. While RJD is pushing for a larger share, Congress leaders insist on retaining their 2020 numbers, arguing that their grassroots influence in several northern and central constituencies has grown.
Meanwhile, the party’s Central Election Committee has cleared 53 names, indicating Congress’s intent to move forward even as alliance talks linger. Party insiders said the move is both strategic and symbolic — to demonstrate readiness and avoid last-minute confusion.
Congress Candidate List for Bihar Election 2025
The list covers multiple regions, from West Champaran to Gaya, including reserved and general constituencies. Notable candidates include:
- Bagaha – Jayesh Mangal Singh
- Bettiah – Wasi Ahmed
- Raxaul – Shyam Bihari Prasad
- Kadwa – Shakeel Ahmad Khan
- Manihari (ST) – Manohar Prasad Singh
- Sonbarsha (SC) – Ms. Sarita Devi
- Muzaffarpur – Bijendra Chaudhary
- Begusarai – Ms. Amita Bhushan
- Bhagalpur – Ajeet Kumar Sharma
- Biharsharif – Omair Khan
- Patna Sahib – Shashant Shekhar
- Buxar – Sanjay Kumar Tiwari
- Kishanganj – Md. Qamrul Hoda
- Purnia – Jitender Yadav
- Gaya Town – Mohan Shrivasta
The list also includes several Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe candidates such as Ms. Punam Paswan (Korha SC), Rajesh Ram (Kutumba SC), and Mangal Ram (Chenari SC), reflecting Congress’s attempt to balance caste representation across Bihar’s political landscape.
Political analysts view the Congress’s early announcement as a calculated step — both to pressure the RJD into quicker seat-sharing decisions and to establish its independent preparedness within the Bihar Election 2025 framework. With nomination deadlines closing in, the party seems determined to project confidence even without final agreement from its allies.
While the Congress aims to contest roughly 90 to 100 seats, RJD’s reluctance to concede that number has caused repeated rounds of negotiation. Sources within the alliance admit that last-minute compromises may still emerge, but tensions remain high.
The Road Ahead for the Mahagathbandhan
As the Bihar Election 2025 battle gains pace, the delay in seat-sharing could impact coordination on the ground. Both parties are aware that voter perception of disunity might hurt the alliance’s credibility against the ruling NDA, led by the BJP and JD(U).
With Congress already setting its campaign in motion and RJD yet to finalize its lists, the Mahagathbandhan faces an early test of coordination, discipline, and mutual trust — qualities that could define the opposition’s success or failure in Bihar this year.
