NEW DELHI/PATNA: A day after the mahagathbandhan announced its seat-sharing pact in Bihar, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Saturday released its list of candidates for 39 out of 40 seats in the state. Most sitting MPs of the BJP have managed to retain their seats.
The candidate for Khagaria has not been announced.
Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad will contest from Patna Sahib seat — a party stronghold now represented by rebel BJP leader Shatrughan Sinha.
The NDA in Bihar comprises BJP, Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) and Ram Vilas Paswan’s LJP.
An analysis of the list shows that caste and winnability factors have influenced the list.
While JD(U) will contest from OBC/EBC-dominated constituencies, the BJP will field candidates in upper-caste dominated constituencies.
This is a notable shift from the last election — when JD(U) was not part of NDA —where the BJP played the development card and won 22 seats.
For instance, the BJP dropped its sitting MP from Siwan Om Prakash Yadav to field a new face — Kavita Singh — who belongs to the dominant Rajput caste.
The same formula helped Chhapra MP Rajiv Pratap Rudy, who has managed to retain his seat.
Union Minister Giriraj Singh, the sitting MP of Nawada, was shifted to Bhumihar-dominated Begusarai.
BJP leader and sitting MP from Patliputra Ram Kripal Yadav hopes to win again.
Yadavs and Kurmis dominate his constituency.
Similarly, central minister Radha Mohan Singh could retain the Motihari LS seat, which is dominated by Rajput and Bhumihar voters.
The BJP still retains the upper-caste tag in Bihar. It, however, will contest the Muslim-dominated Jokihat constituency, where the saffron party has an even chance of winning.
In the case of Patna Sahib, the constituency is dominated by Kayasthas. It is also the largest constituency with 15 lakh voters. According to reports, Sinha may join the Congress and contest from the same seat.
JD(U)’s Vijay Kumar Manjhi will run from SC/ST-dominated Gaya reserved constituency, where HAM’s president Jitan Ram Manjhi is the grand alliance candidate.
LJP state president Pashupati Kumar Paras will be replacing his brother and party chief Ram Vilas Paswan in Hajipur as the Union minister is likely to get a Rajya Sabha ticket. Chirag Paswan, the son of the LJP chief, will be seeking re-election from Jamui.