Congress Announces Fourth List of Six Candidates for Bihar Polls

New Delhi — The Congress party on Sunday released its fourth list of candidates for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, naming six nominees and taking the total number of announced candidates to 60 so far.

The latest list, issued late on Sunday, includes three Muslim candidates, reflecting the party’s attempt to maintain regional and social balance.

Earlier, the Congress had released its first list of 48 candidates on October 16, followed by a second list with one name and a third list featuring five nominees.

In the new list, the party has fielded:

• Surendra Prasad Kushwaha from Valmiki Nagar,

• Abidur Rahman from Araria,

• Jalil Mastan from Amour,

• Tauqeer Alam from Barari,

• Praveen Singh Kushwaha from Kahalgaon, and

• Vinod Chaudhary from Sikandra.

According to party sources, there was no consensus between the Congress and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) over the Kahalgaon seat. However, the Congress went ahead and announced its own candidate, effectively staking claim on the constituency.

Even as nominations for the first phase of elections closed on October 17, there has been no formal seat-sharing announcement within the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance). The deadline for filing nominations for the second phase ends on Monday.

Apart from Congress, RJD and Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) are yet to declare their complete lists. RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav and several other candidates have already filed their nominations.

The alliance has seen overlaps in candidate selection, with both Congress and RJD fielding candidates in at least seven constituencies, which leaders have described as “friendly contests.”

However, insiders point to rising tension within the alliance. With no seat-sharing clarity and both parties issuing symbols independently, communication between Congress and RJD leaders has reportedly come to a standstill.

Adding to the friction, the RJD has fielded candidates in a dozen constituencies, including Kutumba, currently held by state Congress President Rajesh Ram — a move that sets up a direct RJD–Congress contest in some areas.

With inputs from IANS