Congress Unveils First List of Candidates for Bihar Polls — 27 Names Out, Seat-Sharing Formula Still Under Wraps
The Congress Party has released its first list of 27 candidates for the Bihar Assembly Elections 2025, while the seat-sharing arrangement with allies remains pending
The Congress party on Wednesday released the names of some of its candidates for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, while not announcing an official list of nominees.
The party, on the official X handle for its Bihar unit, posted pictures of some of the final candidates receiving their nomination certificates.
This comes even as the seat-sharing arrangement between the Mahagathbandhan allies has not been officially finalised yet.
According to the announcement made by the party’s Bihar unit on X, its state unit president Rajesh Ram has been fielded from the Kutumba Assembly constituency.
Congress has fielded Vijendra Chaudhary from Muzaffarpur, Om Prakash Garg from Gopalganj, Amita Bhushan Begusarai, Dr. Shashi Shekhar Singh from Wazirganj, Kaushelendra Kumar from Nalanda, and Anand Shankar Singh from Aurangabad.
Meanwhile, Anil Kumar will contest from Bikram, Lalan Kumar from Sultanganj, Amaresh Kumar from Lakhisarai, BK Ravi from Rosda, Shashibhushan Rai alias Gappu Rai from Govindganj, Jitendra Singh from Amarpur, and Shiv Prakash Garib Das from Bachhwara Assembly constituency.
Trishuldhari Singh has been fielded from the Barbigha seat.
In a post on X, Rajesh Ram thanked the party for the nomination. “I express my heartfelt gratitude to the top leadership of the Congress Party and assure them that I will not contest this election alone, but the entire Kutumba family will fight together,” the Congress Bihar unit president said. “We will all together make our invaluable contribution to forming the Mahagathbandhan government in Bihar,” he added.
In a key pre-election move, the Indian National Congress on Tuesday released its first list of candidates for the upcoming Bihar Assembly Elections 2025, signaling the beginning of its campaign push in the politically charged state. However, the much-anticipated seat-sharing formula with its alliance partners — including RJD and Left parties — has not yet been finalized, sparking speculation about internal negotiations within the opposition block.
According to party sources, the Congress’ Central Election Committee (CEC) approved 27 candidates across various constituencies in Bihar. The list includes both new faces and sitting MLAs, reflecting the party’s strategy to blend experience with youthful energy in its bid to regain political ground in the state.
Prominent leaders such as Shakti Singh Yadav, Ajit Sharma, and Shakeel Ahmad Khan are reportedly among the early candidates finalized. The selection process, officials said, was based on “winnability, local feedback, and social balance.”
Despite releasing the list, Congress has not disclosed the seat-sharing ratio with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Left parties, all part of the INDIA bloc alliance. Party insiders confirmed that discussions are “in the final stages” and a public announcement is expected within the next 72 hours.
The RJD, led by Tejashwi Yadav, is reportedly demanding a major share of the 243 Assembly seats, while the Congress has been pushing for at least 70 constituencies, citing its presence in key urban and border regions.
“We’ve made significant progress. There’s broad agreement on most constituencies. A few seats remain under discussion to ensure fair representation across communities.”
The Congress is focusing on grassroots mobilization, digital outreach, and women voter engagement to rebuild its base. The party aims to highlight issues like unemployment, inflation, and law and order while contrasting its governance model with the Nitish Kumar-BJP alliance currently ruling the state.
Rozgaar aur Samman” (Employment and Dignity)
“Mahila Suraksha” (Women’s Safety)
“Nyay ka Vaada” (Promise of Justice)
The BJP, meanwhile, mocked Congress for releasing names “without a clear alliance structure”. Bihar BJP spokesperson Nikhil Anand said
“This shows confusion within the opposition camp. The INDIA bloc is divided even before the campaign begins.”
On the other hand, RJD leaders have maintained that seat-sharing differences are minor and will be resolved through mutual understanding
Political analysts suggest that Congress’ early candidate announcement is aimed at building momentum and visibility, especially in North and Central Bihar, where it hopes to make gains. Voter mood remains mixed, with rural communities focusing on agricultural subsidies and employment schemes, while urban voters express concerns over infrastructure and corruption
The final seat-sharing announcement is expected soon, followed by the second list of Congress candidates before the Election Commission’s nomination deadline. With the model code of conduct already in force, political campaigning across Bihar is set to intensify in the coming days.
The next 72 hours could be crucial in determining whether the INDIA bloc’s unity holds strong — or fractures under pressure.
