Overview

• The Central Election Committee met in New Delhi under Mallikarjun Kharge, with Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi participating virtually.
• Leaders said 25 names were cleared in the first round from constituencies described as Congress strongholds, with the list withheld for now.
• Party sources said 14 of the cleared nominees are sitting MLAs, and two names remain under reconsideration.
• Seat allocation talks with RJD, Left parties and VIP are ongoing, with sources indicating Congress may contest about 54 seats as the Left seeks roughly 35 and VIP around 20.
• Bihar votes in two phases on November 6 and 11, and counting is scheduled for November 14.