Reg No. - CHHBIL/2010/41479ISSN - 2582-919X
Bihar Election LIVE : PM Modi to launch BJP poll campaign on October 24 with two back-to-back rallies
Prime Minister Narendra Modi. File | Photo Credit: ANI
RJD ticket aspirant, Madan Shah, broke down and tore off his clothes before rolling down the road on Sunday (October 19), in protest for being denied the chance to contest this time around
PM Modi will launch his Bihar Assembly poll campaign on October 24, amidst continuing confusion in the INDIA bloc. The Opposition bloc’s dilemma showed little signs of let up on Saturday (October 18) , with just two days to go before the filing of nomination papers for the second and final phase of assembly elections comes to a close.
Asaduddin Owaisi’s AIMIM announced a list of 25 candidates, including two non-Muslims. The list includes the name of Akhtarul Iman, the State president of AIMIM and its lone MLA in Bihar. Meanwhile, the RJD faced a fresh controversy after an aspirant, Madan Shah, broke down, tore off his clothes and started rolling down the road on Sunday (October 19) after being denied a ticket by the party for the Bihar elections.
The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Bihar faced a major jolt on Saturday (October 18, 2025) after the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) candidate Seema Singh’s nomination papers were rejected during the scrutiny process in the Marhaura Assembly seat ahead of next month’s election.
Follow LIVE updates here
October 19, 2025 19:14
Bihar polls: JD(U) withdraws candidature of ex-MP in favour of original nominee in Amour seat
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) was left with egg on its face on Sunday (October 19, 2025) when the candidature of Sabir Ali, from the Amour assembly seat, was withdrawn in favour of Saba Zafar, who had already filed nomination papers on the party’s ticket.
Ali, who had been expelled from the JD(U) in 2014, was on Saturday (October 18) named the candidate from the assembly seat in Purnea district, in a sudden decision that took party cadres by surprise.
October 19, 2025 18:29
Bihar polls: Who is Ritu Jaiswal, RJD women’s wing chief set to contest as an Independent
Ritu Jaiswal had also contested the Lok Sabha polls last year from Sheohar constituency, where she lost by a margin of less than 30,000 votes to Lovely Anand of JD(U).
The RJD women’s wing state president has announced that she will be contesting the Parihar assembly seat in Bihar as an Independent candidate in protest against the party giving a ticket to her detractor.
Although the RJD has not yet formally announced names of any of its candidates, photos of Purve’s daughter-in-law Smita receiving the party symbol from Tejashwi Yadav, son and heir apparent of national president Lalu Prasad, have gone viral on social media.
October 19, 2025 18:05
RJD women’s wing chief to contest as an Independent against party candidate in Parihar
RJD women’s wing state president Ritu Jaiswal on Sunday (October 19, 2025) announced that she will be contesting the Parihar assembly seat in Bihar as an Independent candidate in protest against the party giving a ticket to her detractor.
In a Facebook post, she voiced anguish that the ticket has gone to the “daughter-in-law of Ram Chandra Purve”, a former State president of the RJD, whose “betrayal”, she blamed, for her defeat from the seat in 2020, by a margin of less than 2,000 votes.
“I am going to file nomination papers tomorrow as an Independent candidate. The party has signalled that it was willing to accommodate me in another constituency. But that would be a deal against my conscience”, said the 48-year-old, who had started off as an educated Panchayat Mukhiya.
-PTI
October 19, 2025 17:23
Jan Suraaj’s transgender candidate Priti Kinnar on entry into politics, possible victory and more
Priti Kinnar, a transgender social worker who is set to take on Bihar’s Education Minister and sitting JD(U) MLA Sunil Kumar in Bhorey Assembly seat in Gopalganj district on a Jan Suraaj ticket, said she has responded to people’s call to enter politics and exuded confidence that the masses would ensure her win.
Her victory may be historic as the only transgender MLA in the country was Shabnam Bano, who represented Sohagpur assembly constituency in Madhya Pradesh from 1998 to 2003.
October 19, 2025 16:31
BJP set for a big win in Bihar: Tripura CM Manik Saha
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Saturday expressed confidence about the BJP’s prospects in the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, scheduled for November 6 and 11, with results on November 14.
Addressing a public meeting in Bihar, Mr. Saha stated that the people are seeking development, which only the BJP can deliver.
Mr. Saha predicted excellent results for the BJP in Bihar, citing the party’s development agenda and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.
- PTI
October 19, 2025 15:27
PM Modi to launch Bihar polls campaign on Oct 24 with two back-to-back rallies
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch his campaign for the Bihar Assembly polls next week, with as many as four election rallies scheduled by the end of this month, State BJP president Dilip Jaiswal said on Sunday (October 19, 2025).
Addressing a press conference here, Mr. Jaiswal said Modi will kick off his campaign with a rally in Samastipur on October 24, followed by another election meeting in Begusarai the very same day.
- PTI
October 19, 2025 14:44
‘Strategy, intentions not clear’: Bihar Minister Nitin Nabin claims “uncertainty” in Mahagathbandhan
Bihar Minister Nitin Nabin on Sunday (October 18, 2025) said that there was “uncertainty” in the opposition Mahagathbandhan amid chaos over the seat-sharing issue, even as the Assembly elections come closer.
Speaking to ANI, Mr. Nabin claimed the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) can’t come around “Lalu chalisa” since their sole focus is on their family. He further said that the Mahagathbandhan alliance can’t function since their strategy and intention were not clear.
“There is uncertainty in alliance. RJD has insulted everyone. They can’t fulfil the alliance dharma. The basis of the (Mahagathbandhan) alliance is to loot each other. Their strategy and intentions are not clear. Congress’ marginalised position and RJD’s focus solely on their family members,” Bihar Minister Mr. Nabin said.
- ANI
October 19, 2025 14:36Denied ticket by RJD, aspirant Madan Sah breaks down, tears off clothesHigh drama unfolded outside RJD president Lalu Prasad’s residence on Sunday (October 19, 2025) when an aspirant broke down, tore off his clothes and started rolling down the road after being denied a ticket by the party for the Bihar elections.Madan Sah, who has gone viral on social media, claimed that he has been associated with the party for a long time and was hopeful of a ticket from Madhuban, where he was the runner-up in 2020, losing to the BJP candidate by a small margin.“I was asked to cough up ₹2.70 crore. I managed by putting the weddings of my children on hold. Now I am finished. At least, they should return the money,” said Mr. Sah.Party leaders were tight-lipped on the allegation of money having been demanded from the aspirant.- PTI
October 19, 2025 14:31‘We contest only in Bihar, won’t ask for seats in Karnataka, Rajasthan’: RJD’s Mrityunjay TiwariAmid a struggle over seat-sharing in the opposition Mahagathbandhan, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Mrityunjay Tiwari on Sunday (October 19, 2025) said that the alliance parties must understand that the Lal Prasad Yadav-led party mainly contests in Bihar and won’t ask for seats in states like Karnataka and Rajasthan.“Such situations emerge when there is a coalition, but it must be understood that RJD contests elections only in Bihar and a few seats in Jharkhand. We are not going to demand seats in Karnataka, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh from Congress. They must understand the ground realities. There is still time. All the top leaders of the Mahagathbandhan parties would sit together to discuss and resolve this issue,” RJD leader Mr. Tiwari said.- ANI
October 19, 2025 14:28Owaisi’s AIMIM announces list of 25 candidates for Bihar pollsThe Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM, which had vowed to contest “100 seats” in the Bihar polls upon being spurned by the INDIA bloc, on Sunday (October 19, 2025) announced 25 candidates, including two non-Muslims.The list, which includes the name of Akhtarul Iman, the State president of AIMIM and its lone MLA in Bihar, was shared by the party on X.
October 19, 2025 14:18
Union Minister Giriraj Singh courts controversy with remark against a minority community in Patna
Taking a sharp jibe at the Opposition Mahagathbandhan ahead of the Bihar polls, Union Minister Giriraj Singh targeted Muslims during a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rally in Arwal, asserting that his party does not seek the votes of “Namak Harams” (ungrateful people).
Addressing a gathering at the nomination rally of the BJP candidate from the Arwal constituency on Saturday (October 18, 2025), Mr. Singh contrasted the BJP’s governance with previous regimes. The Union Minister recounted an interaction with a Muslim, asking if they had benefited from government schemes.
“I asked them, did you get the Aayushmaan card? They said, Yes. Was there a Hindu or Muslim issue? They said, No. This is very good for me. Did you vote for me? They said, Yes. I asked, in the name of God, did you vote for me? They said, No. I asked, Did you vote for Narendra Modi? They said, No. Did we abuse you? They said, No. I asked, What was my mistake?… I said… I do not want the votes of the Namak Harams(ungrateful people).”
- ANI
October 19, 2025 14:13
Joined politics on people’s call, they will lead me to victory: Jan Suraaj’s transgender candidate
Priti Kinnar, a transgender social worker who is set to take on Bihar’s Education Minister and sitting JD(U) MLA Sunil Kumar in Bhorey Assembly seat in Gopalganj district on a Jan Suraaj ticket, said she has responded to people’s call to enter politics and exuded confidence that the masses would ensure her win.
Her victory may be historic as the only transgender MLA in the country was Shabnam Bano, who represented Sohagpur Assembly constituency in Madhya Pradesh from 1998 to 2003.
In the last three assembly elections, Bhorey has elected MLAs from three parties – BJP’s Indradeo Majhi in 2010, Congress’ Anil Kumar in 2015, and JD(U)‘s Sunil Kumar in 2020.
- PTI
October 19, 2025 14:09
Dynasts continue to dominate Bihar elections, list of parties full of politicians’ kin
Dynasts continue to dominate Bihar’s political landscape, with a considerable number of candidates being either sons, daughters, wives or close relatives of established politicians.
Experts say that no party in Bihar can claim moral superiority on this ground as far as dynasts entering politics is concerned.
- PTI
October 19, 2025 14:06
‘Maha jungle raj’: CPI(ML)‘s Dipankar Bhattacharya hits back at NDA, claims poverty, crime in Bihar
Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya on Sunday (October 19, 2025) hit back at the NDA’s “jungle raj” jibe, claiming acute poverty and a rise in crime under the Nitish Kumar-led government in Bihar.
Speaking to ANI, Mr. Bhattacharya termed the NDA regime as “Maha jungle raj”, claiming that 94.5 lakh families in Bihar survive on a monthly income of less than ₹6,000. Alleging “worst” crime rate in the State, he said, “Crime is at its worst today. Killing in hospital to killing of a trader, rapes… people say if that was ‘jungle raj’, we are in a ‘maha jungle raj’.”
- ANI
October 19, 2025 14:03
‘Contest between Mahagathbandhan and NDA’: BJP’s Dilip Jaiswal says ‘Third factor will be revealed after results’
With less than two weeks to go for the Bihar Assembly polls, State BJP president Dilip Jaiswal said on Sunday (October 19, 2025) that the Assembly poll is a direct contest between Mahagathbandhan and the NDA and termed the entry of Prashant Kishor, who is the founder of Jan Suraaj, into the political fray as a “part of an election strategy”.
On Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor’s statement, Mr. Jaiswal told ANI, “…This is part of an election strategy. The people of Bihar now understand that the election is between the Mahagathbandhan and the NDA… The third factor will be revealed after the election.”
- ANI
October 19, 2025 12:50
CPI(ML)‘s Dipankar Bhattacharya attributes delay in seat-sharing pact to Mukesh Sahani’s VIP
Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya on Sunday attributed the delay in deciding Mahagathbandhan’s seat-sharing arrangement to accommodating Mukesh Sahani’s Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP), noting a lack of unity within the alliance on several constituencies.
The CPI(ML) leader said the party has settled for 20 seats in the Mahagathbandhan’s seat-sharing formula for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections.
Speaking to ANI, Dipankar Bhattacharya said, “We had 19 seats last time. This time, we were hoping that CPI(ML) would get to contest in 25 seats. But since it’s a bigger coalition, we had to settle for 20.”
Addressing the delay in announcing the seat-sharing pact, he added, “One reason is that it is a bigger coalition this time. The VIP… had to accommodate the new party, which meant everybody had to sacrifice a few seats. This caused a delay, and because of this, there is no absolute unity in every constituency. But we have made it a point that there will be no friendly fights. By October 20, I hope complete unity will prevail.”
-ANI
October 19, 2025 12:15
AIMIM releases list of 25 candidates for Bihar Assembly elections
The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) on Sunday released its list of 25 candidates for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections.
In a post on X, AIMIM wrote, “The names of AIMIM candidates for the Bihar Assembly elections are something like this. Inshallah, we hope to become the voice of the most oppressed people in Bihar. This list has been prepared by the AIMIM Bihar unit, and in this regard, consultation has also been done with the party’s national leadership.”
October 19, 2025 11:53
Roadmap has been prepared: Bihar BJP President Dilip Jaiswal
With less than two weeks to go for the Bihar Assembly polls, State BJP president Dilip Jaiswal said that a “roadmap has been prepared” as the BJP has intensified its campaigning for the Assembly poll.
“10 public rallies of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi have been proposed. Locations have been identified and sent to PMO. Home Minister Amit Shah will conduct around 25 public rallies. Almost the same number of rallies will be done by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and top leaders…Roadmap has been prepared,” Mr. Jaiswal told ANI on Saturday.
Mr. Jaiswal stated that PM Modi’s election campaign will begin from Samastipur and later he will head to Begusarai to address public rallies.
-ANI
October 19, 2025 11:00
“Everything has been finalised…”: Congress leader Pawan Khera
Amidst the ongoing seat-sharing crisis within the Mahagathbandhan, Congress leader Pawan Khera on Saturday said that everything has been finalised and an announcement will be made at the right time.
“Everything has been finalised, only the announcement has to be made, which will be made at the right time,” Pawan Khera told reporters.
He also slammed Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for calling the RJD rule in Bihar as “Jungle Raj.”
“U.P. CM Yogi Adityanath gives statements on ‘Jungle raj’, first he should look at the condition in his State,” Mr. Khera said.
-ANI
October 19, 2025 10:23
Contradictions within NDA, Mahagathbandhan:JMM
Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) general secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya said that there are “contradictions” within the National Democratic Alliance and Mahagathbandhan.
Mr. Bhattacharya told reporters on Saturday, “…There are contradictions within the NDA as well as within the Mahagathbandhan. There is infighting in many seats…We will also review the alliance in the State. Because every time there is betrayal. They have betrayed the workers of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha…We will win the elections and ensure that the next government in Bihar will not be formed without the consent of the JMM…”
Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) on Saturday said that it will contest the Bihar polls on its own and not as part of Mahagathbandhan.
-ANI
October 19, 2025 09:41
Main objective to defeat BJP-RSS, says CPI’s D, Raja
Communist Party of India (CPI) General Secretary D. Raja stated that the Mahagathbandhan’s primary objective is to defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, accusing them of posing a threat to the Constitution.
Speaking to ANI on Saturday, D. Raja said, “BJP-RSS is posing grave threats to the Constitution. Our main objective is to defeat the BJP-RSS combine in the Bihar elections through the Mahagatbandhan.”
Further, the CPI leader defended Congress leader Priyank Kharge’s demand for a ban on RSS’ activities in government premises, claiming RSS is not a registered body.
“RSS is not a registered body answerable to any law of the land. They try to enter government premises, public premises…how can it be allowed?” he said.
-ANI
October 19, 2025 09:07
Confusion prevails in INDIA bloc even as two days remain for nomination process to end
Confusion prevailing in the INDIA bloc showed little signs of let up on Saturday, with just two days to go before the filing of nomination papers for the second and final phase of Assembly elections comes to a close.
The multi-party coalition, which had of late been blaming its inability to declare a seat-sharing arrangement on the need to “accommodate new allies”, was given up on by the JMM, which announced it will go it alone and contest six seats in Bihar.
The RJD, which is expected to contest a lion’s share of the 243 seats in the State Assembly, has been giving away party tickets at will, in many instances against candidates of alliance partners, but has failed to come up with a consolidated list of its nominees.
The Congress, which had a few days ago announced a ‘first list’ of 48 candidates, followed by a one-off announcement on Friday, has now revealed the names of its nominees for five more seats, including Kishanganj, which it held but where it has dropped its sitting MLA Ijharul Hussain in favour of a turncoat.
-PTI
October 19, 2025 08:54
Prashant Kishor: From backroom to ballot
Prashant Kishor, 48, political strategist-turned-leader of the Jan Suraaj Party (JSP), is a public figure about whom much is known and seen, yet with every new assignment or stage in his career, something more is revealed. As an unknown wag once said, “why pay money to have your family tree traced; go into politics and your opponents will do it for you.” Mr. Kishor is now in politics, neck deep.
For starters, political observers came to know of Mr. Kishor as one of the figures behind the Citizens for Accountability and Governance (C&AG), an organisation actively involved in the political campaign of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2014, the election that saw the emergence of Narendra Modi, then Gujarat Chief Minister, on the national stage.
Read the story here
Prashant Kishor: From backroom to ballot
The Hindu profile on Prashant Kishor, political strategist turned leader of JSP, navigates Indian politics with a disruptive approach and unknown outcomes.
October 19, 2025 08:22
Bihar migrants, home for the festive season, are critical voters
As Bihari migrants start returning home ahead of the two major festivals of Diwali (the festival of lights) and Chhath (the offering to the sun deity), the big question is who will get their votes in the State’s Assembly election, scheduled to be held on November 6 and 11.
The new entrant in the Bihar political arena, former poll strategist Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party, has gained traction among this key section of the electorate, but migrant voters are still holding their cards close to their chest. Groups of migrants passing through Patna junction on their way to their homes, mostly in the northeastern and northwestern border districts of the State, say they will only take a final decision after reaching home and consulting their family members, friends, and villagers. They predict the contest will be between the NDA and mahagathbandhan (Opposition alliance) this time as, “but it will be a tough one”.
Read the story here
Bihar Assembly polls: Bihar migrants, home for the festive season, are critical voters
Bihari migrants returning home for festivals hold key to Bihar Assembly election, parties wooing them for votes.
October 19, 2025 08:10
JMM to contest Bihar polls independently, field candidates in six seats
Jharkhand’s ruling JMM on Saturday (October 18, 2025) announced that it will contest the Bihar Assembly polls independently, and field candidates in six seats.
Elections to 243 seats of the Bihar Assembly will be held on November 6 and November 11, and the votes will be counted on November 14.
“The party has decided to contest the Bihar polls on its own. It will contest six assembly seats – Chakai, Dhamdaha, Katoria (ST), Manihari (ST), Jamui and Pirpainti,” JMM general secretary and spokesperson Supriyo Bhattacharya said.
These seats will go to polls in the second phase on November 11.
-PTI
October 19, 2025 07:54
Congress fields five more candidates for Bihar polls
The Congress Election Committee (CEC) on Saturday (October 18, 2025) released its second list comprising five candidates for the Bihar Assembly election.
The party has named Shashwat Kedar Pandey for the Narkatiaganj seat, Mohammad Qamrul Hoda for Kishanganj, and Mohammad Irfan Alam for Kasba. In Purnea, the party has fielded Jitender Yadav, and Mohan Shrivasta from the Gaya Town constituency.
Earlier, the Congress had released its first list of 48 candidates. Till now, it has fielded 53 candidates.
Read the story here
Congress fields five more candidates for Bihar polls
CEC releases second list of Bihar Assembly candidates; INDIA bloc seat-sharing remains uncertain; JMM to contest six seats.
October 19, 2025 07:54
Jolt for NDA after LJP(RV) candidate’s nomination papers rejected
The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Bihar faced a major jolt on Saturday (October 18, 2025) after the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) candidate Seema Singh’s nomination papers were rejected during the scrutiny process in the Marhaura Assembly seat ahead of next month’s election.
Her candidature was rejected due to discrepancies found in her documents submitted before the returning officer. She belongs to Union Minister Chirag Paswan’s party, the LJP (RV), which has got 29 seats under the NDA’s seat-sharing arrangement.
Ms. Singh was among the five candidates whose nomination papers have been rejected. The others are Madhubala Giri of The Plurals Party, Janata Dal (United) rebel Altaf Alam who is contesting as an Independent, Vishal Kumar who is also an Independent, and the Bahujan Samaj Party’s Aditya Kumar.
Read the story here
Bihar Assembly polls: Jolt for NDA after LJP(RV) candidate’s nomination papers rejected
NDA in Bihar faces setback as LJP candidate’s nomination papers rejected, seat-sharing finalized for Assembly election.
(Iputs from PTi and ANI )
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