A total of 40 candidates had initially filed nominations for 37 seats across 10 states. After withdrawals, 14 candidates remain in the fray for the 11 seats where contests are scheduled.
In Bihar, the contest has drawn attention after Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has entered the fray, ending his two-decade tenure as the state’s longest-serving CM. BJP president Nitin Nabin is also expected to secure a seat.
Other NDA nominees from Bihar include Union Minister Ram Nath Thakur, seeking a third consecutive term, and Rashtriya Lok Morcha president Upendra Kushwaha, aiming for a second term. BJP state general secretary Shivesh Kumar is making his parliamentary debut.
The opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal has renominated sitting MP Amarendra Dhari Singh. With the Mahagathbandhan’s numbers falling short, the alliance is hoping for support from smaller parties to bridge a six-vote deficit. According to the Bihar Assembly secretariat, none of the six candidates withdrew nominations, making voting necessary in the state for the first time in over a decade.
Odisha will also see a contest for one seat. Candidates in the fray include state BJP president Manmohan Samal and sitting MP Sujeet Kumar, while the opposition Biju Janata Dal has fielded Santrupt Misra and noted urologist Datteswar Hota. Former Union minister Dilip Ray has filed as an Independent backed by the BJP, raising the possibility of cross-voting.
In Haryana, an Independent candidate, Satish Nandal, has entered the race alongside BJP nominee Sanjay Bhatia and the Congress’ Karamvir Singh Boudh. The Indian National Congress has 37 MLAs in the Assembly and needs 31 first-preference votes to secure a seat.
