Rajputs, EBCs Get Largest Share in NDA&rsquo;s Bihar Candidate List as Alliance Banks on Core Voter Base
Rajputs and Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs) have received the highest number of tickets from the NDA in Bihar, as the coalition leans on its trusted upper-lower caste alliance to retain influence in the state.
In the NDA&rsquo;s list of 243 candidates, over 30 each are Rajputs or from EBC communities such as Noniyas, Nishads, and Dhanuks. 
The list also includes around 25 Bhumihars, over a dozen Brahmins, 20 Vaishyas or Baniyas, as many Koeris, and about 15 Yadavs. 
Yadavs traditionally support the RJD, along with Muslims. 
The NDA has fielded only five Muslim candidates, four from JD(U) and one from LJP (RV).
The seat-sharing arrangement has BJP and JD(U) contesting 101 seats each, LJP (RV) 29, and six each for the Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) and Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) [HAM(S)].
The NDA&rsquo;s candidate selection focuses on experience and reliability. 
Of the 243 names, 129 are repeat candidates from the 2020 Assembly polls, including 37 who lost , while 114 are new faces.&nbsp;
Nearly 80 have previously served as ministers.
Although the alliance is highlighting Nitish Kumar government&rsquo;s women-oriented initiatives such as the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rozgar Yojana, which recently credited ₹10,000 to the accounts of 1.2 crore women, female representation in ticket distribution remains low. 
Only 36 of the 243 candidates (less than 15%) are women. 
JD(U) has 14 women candidates, BJP 13, LJP (RV) 6, HAM(S) 2, and RLM 1.
In terms of education, around 60 NDA nominees (24.7%) are graduates, while over 50 (20.5%) have completed intermediate or equivalent education. 
Over 30 are postgraduates, 17 have cleared Class 10, and around 12 hold law degrees. 
The list also includes 15 PhD holders, five MBAs, two D.Litts, and two MBBS graduates. 
About 11 candidates have described themselves simply as &ldquo;literate.&rdquo;
Occupationally, nearly 45% of candidates cite agriculture as their main or secondary income source, followed by business, salary, or pension. 
Over 65%, around 160 candidates, have rural or semi-rural roots. 
More than half have prior legislative experience, including stints in the Assembly, Legislative Council, or Parliament.
Among the 38 SC-reserved and two ST-reserved constituencies in Bihar, BJP is contesting 11 SC seats and one ST seat; JD(U) is contesting 15 SC and one ST seat; LJP (RV) 8 SC seats; and HAM(S) 4 SC seats.
Dynastic representation remains visible within the NDA ranks, with at least 24 candidates (nearly 10%) continuing political legacies. 
These include&nbsp;Simant Mrinal (nephew of LJP (RV) chief Chirag Paswan) contesting from Garkha, Deepa Kumari (daughter-in-law of HAM(S) chief Jitan Ram Manjhi) from Imamganj, and Rama Nishad (wife of former MP Ajay Nishad) from Aurai.
Other dynasts include BJP&rsquo;s Jitendra Kumar from Asthawan, Arun Kumar Singh from Baruraj, Nitin Nabin from Bankipur, and Rakesh Ranjan from Shahpur, all second-generation politicians. 
JD(U) has also fielded Ruhail Ranjan, son of former MLA Rajiv Ranjan (Islampur), and Komal Singh, daughter of MLC Dinesh Prasad Singh (Gaighat).
Turncoats feature prominently as well, about 39 candidates have switched parties. 
They include Raj Kumar Singh (JD(U), formerly LJP), Chhotey Lal Rai (JD(U), ex-RJD), Siddharth Saurav (BJP, ex-Congress), and Ram Chandra Sada (JD(U), previously with multiple parties including BJP and LJP).
According to an analysis by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) for candidates contesting 121 seats in the first phase of the Bihar polls on November 6, a large proportion face criminal charges: 39% of JD(U) candidates (22 of 57), 65% of BJP candidates (31 of 48), and 45% of LJP (RV) candidates (13 of 29).

NDA banks on Rajput-EBC vote mix, fields dynasts, and repeats 129 candidates

NDA Leaders Announce Bihar Candidate List In Patna

NDA banks on Rajput-EBC vote mix, fields dynasts, and repeats 129 candidates

November 4, 2025 | 24:14 IST