National News: The 2025 Bihar Turnout Elections have been announced. The Referendum Commission released the schedule on October 6, 2025. Voting will take place in two phases – the first phase on November 6 (121 seats) and the second phase on November 11 (122 seats). The results will be supposed on November 14. This change, compared to the three phases during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, has been made for voter convenience. However, the influence of musclemen is rhadamanthine increasingly visible in this electoral battle. Most contested seats have been decided in the first phase itself.
Danapur: RJD Strongman’s Fortress
Danapur is considered the stronghold of strongman Reeta Lal Ray (RJD). He won this seat without stuff released from prison in 2020. He has increasingly than 33 cases registered versus him, including murder, extortion, and money laundering. He has resources worth over 27 crore rupees and debts of approximately 8 crore rupees. RJD is trying to retain its hold on this seat in 2025. In the 2020 turnout elections, RJD's Reeta Lal Ray won from here, while BJP's Asha Devi came in second.
Voting – November 6 (first phase)
Lalganj (Vaishali district)
Lalganj is dominated by strongman Munna Shukla (Vijay Kumar Shukla). He won the seat in 2015 on a JD(U) ticket, but was convicted by the Supreme Court in a murder case. He faces over 18 charges. In 2020, BJP's Sanjay Kumar Singh won here. RJD may struggle a comeback in this seat. In 2020, BJP's Sanjay Kumar Singh secured a seat from here, securing his Patna seat, while Congress was defeated.
Voting – November 6 (first phase)
Raghunathpur (Siwan district)
RJD has decided to field Shahabuddin's son, Osama Shahab, in the Raghunathpur seat. Due to his father's network and influence, RJD is confident of this seat. Harishankar Yadav (RJD) won this seat in 2020. In 2020, this seat went to the RJD, with Harishankar Yadav winning by approximately 18,000 votes, defeating Manoj Kumar Singh of the ALJP. It should be noted that Chirag Paswan contested the 2020 elections independently from the NDA.
Voting – November 6 (first phase)
Mokama (Patna district)
Anant Kumar Singh, moreover known as 'Chhote Sarkar,' is a strongman in the region. He won the 2020 referendum on an RJD ticket. He has over 38 cases versus him, including murder and kidnapping. He has resources worth over 68 crore rupees and debts of approximately 17 crore rupees. He defeated Rajiv Lochan of the JDU.
Voting – November 6 (first phase)
Maharajganj (Siwan district)
RJD strongman Mohammad Shahabuddin holds influence in Maharajganj. He faces kidnapping and murder charges. In 2020, Congress candidate Vijay Shankar Dubey won here in a tropical contest. Here, too, the NDA candidate was a JDU candidate.
Voting – November 6 (first phase)
Tarari (Bhojpur district)
Sunil Pandey, considered a strongman during the Lalu-Rabri regime, is the leading candidate for this seat. In 2020, he was defeated by Sudama Prasad of the CPIML. This time, the RJD will races the seat in alliance. Discussions are ongoing as to who will win this seat this time.
Voting – November 6 (first phase)
Vaishali (Vaishali district)
Vaishali was Brij Bihari Prasad's stronghold, where he won in 1990 and 1995. In 2020, JDU's Siddharth Patel won this seat. This time too, there is ongoing competition for tickets. However, no information has yet been released regarding ticket distribution.
Voting – November 6 (first phase)
2020 results and preparation for 2025
In 2020, the RJD emerged as the largest party (75 seats), but the NDA worked the government. The NDA won 125 seats, while the Grand Syndication secured 110. In 2025, the Grand Alliance, led by Tejashwi Yadav, appears to be stronger. Muslim, Yadav, and EBC votes will be targeted. RJD's tenancy in seats with strong muscle power is expected to remain as strong as in 2020.
The shadow of strongmen and the wrestle for democracy
These seven seats unmistakably reflect the strongman influence in Bihar politics. They will be contested in the first phase itself. Without voting on November 6th, the results will be supposed on November 14th, revealing who will succeed in forming the government.
