Overview
- After the first-phase deadline, reports confirm at least eight constituencies with direct intra-alliance contests, including Lalganj, Vaishali, Bachhwara, Tarapur, Rajapakar, Rosera, Gaura Bauram and Kahalgaon.
- Jharkhand Mukti Morcha announced it will contest six Bihar seats independently — Chakai, Dhamdaha, Katoria (ST), Manihari (ST), Jamui and Pirpainti (SC) — and signalled a review of its tie-up in Jharkhand after the polls.
- Congress and the RJD have fielded rival nominees in key seats such as Lalganj and Vaishali, even as Congress leaders claim a seat-sharing deal is settled and only the announcement is pending.
- CPI(ML) Liberation released 20 first-phase candidates, renominating all 12 sitting MLAs, while Congress issued a second list as partners continue acting without a publicly agreed division of seats.
- The NDA’s pact is finalized — BJP and JD(U) on 101 seats each and LJP(R) on 29 — and it is projecting unity as the withdrawal window early next week will determine whether the opposition’s ‘friendly fights’ persist.