The Congress party has released its second list of candidates for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, naming five new contenders as it continues its preparations for the high-stakes contest. The announcement, made late on Saturday, adds to the 48 candidates declared earlier in its first list, bringing the total to 53 candidates so far.

According to the party’s official release, the second list includes candidates for five constituencies: Narkatiaganj, Kishanganj, Kasba, Purnia, and Gaya Town. Shaswat Kedar Pandey will contest from Narkatiaganj, while Qamrul Hoda has been fielded from Kishanganj. The party has nominated Irfan Alam from Kasba, Jitender Yadav from Purnia, and Mohan Shrivasta from Gaya Town.

Election Schedule and Political Context

The polling for Bihar’s 243-member Legislative Assembly will take place in two phases, scheduled for November 6 and November 11, with the counting of votes to be held on November 14. The elections are being closely watched as they will determine the political direction of one of India’s most politically significant states.

However, the Congress and its allies in the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) — primarily the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) — have faced challenges in finalizing a seat-sharing formula. The two sides were unable to reach an agreement for the first phase of the polls before the nomination deadline on October 17. As a result, the Mahagathbandhan partners are engaged in what party insiders describe as a “friendly fight” on certain seats where both allies have fielded candidates.

JMM’s Independent Move

Adding another twist to the opposition landscape, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), a constituent of the INDIA bloc at the national level and the ruling party in Jharkhand, has decided to contest the Bihar elections independently. JMM general secretary and spokesperson Supriyo Bhattacharya announced on Saturday that the party will field its own candidates on six seats, stepping outside the Mahagathbandhan framework. This move could potentially divide opposition votes in several constituencies, complicating the alliance’s electoral arithmetic.

The deadline for filing nominations for the second phase of the Bihar elections is October 20.

Congress’s First List: Key Highlights

Congress had unveiled its first list of 48 candidates on Friday, even before the final seat-sharing talks with its Mahagathbandhan partners were concluded. Among the notable names in that list was Rajesh Ram, the Bihar Congress chief, who will contest from the Kutumba seat. The list also featured Shakeel Ahmad Khan, the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) leader in the state assembly, who has been nominated from Kadwa.

The first list included several youth leaders and new faces, reflecting the party’s effort to balance experience with fresh energy. Prakash Garib Das, the Bihar Youth Congress president, was named as the candidate from Bachhwada. Other candidates included Jayesh Mangal Singh from Bagaha, Amit Giri from Nautan, and Abhishek Ranjan from Chanpatia. The inclusion of younger leaders underscores the Congress’s attempt to reconnect with Bihar’s large youth electorate, which forms a crucial voting bloc in the state.

Challenges Ahead for Congress

The Congress is contesting the Bihar Assembly elections as part of the broader Mahagathbandhan alliance, which also includes the RJD, Left parties, and smaller regional outfits. However, the delay in finalizing seat-sharing arrangements has caused some friction within the alliance, especially as candidates began filing nominations before formal agreements were in place.

Party insiders suggest that while the Congress hopes to contest around 70–80 seats in total, final allocations will depend on ongoing negotiations with the RJD, which remains the dominant partner in the alliance. Despite these internal challenges, Congress leaders have expressed optimism that the alliance will eventually consolidate before the campaign intensifies.

The Road to the 2025 Bihar Elections

The Bihar Assembly elections are shaping up to be a competitive contest between the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA)—comprising the BJP, JD(U), and LJP (Ram Vilas)—and the opposition Mahagathbandhan led by the RJD and Congress. The Congress is hoping to improve its performance from the last election, where it won only a modest number of seats and played a secondary role to the RJD.

With the release of its second list, Congress aims to project preparedness and unity despite the continuing negotiations with its allies. The coming days are expected to bring further clarity on seat distribution and campaign coordination within the Mahagathbandhan.

As the nomination deadline for the second phase approaches and campaigning gains momentum, Bihar is gearing up for an intense electoral battle — one that could redefine the state’s political alliances and leadership landscape.