New Delhi, Nov 4 (NationPress) In Bihar, the 121 Assembly constituencies set to vote in the initial phase on Thursday, November 6, across 18 districts resemble an irregular ellipse at the state's center, bordering the eastern edge of Uttar Pradesh.

As per election regulations, the poll campaign noise level was subdued on Tuesday, November 4, evening, with a plethora of political heavyweights participating among 1,314 candidates. The subsequent phase of polling is scheduled for November 11.

In this first phase, we see candidates from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), including Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Chaudhury and Vijay Kumar Sinha, who are aligned with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government under Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. This round also features Tejashwi Yadav, the Chief Minister hopeful from the Opposition coalition Mahagathbandhan.

Samrat Choudhary is stepping into the electoral fray after serving two terms in the Bihar Legislative Council. Previously, he represented the Parbatta Assembly constituency in 2000 and 2010 as an RJD candidate. Throughout his political journey, he has held ministerial positions across various cabinets led by RJD’s Rabri Devi, Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) leader Jitan Ram Manjhi, and Janata Dal (United) chief Nitish Kumar. His portfolio included Agriculture, Panchayati Raj, Urban Development, Housing, Health, Metrology, and Horticulture.

Now representing the BJP from Tarapur, in the last Assembly elections, JD (U)’s Mewa Lal Choudhary won by over 7,000 votes against his closest competitor, Divya Prakash of the RJD. Samrat will celebrate his 57th birthday two days after the results are revealed on November 14.

His fellow party member, Vijay Kumar Sinha, aged 58, is contesting from Lakhisarai, a seat he has held since 2010. In the 2020 elections, he secured victory over Congress candidate Amaresh Kumar by nearly 10,500 votes and previously defeated Ramanand Mandal of JD (U) in 2015 by more than 6,500 votes, when Nitish Kumar was in alliance with parties opposing the BJP.

Sinha has also served in various ministerial roles and was the Leader of Opposition from 2022 to 2024, as well as Speaker from 2020 to 2022 in the Bihar Legislative Assembly.

On the other hand, Tejashwi Yadav, the heir to Lalu Prasad, is contesting from Raghopur, a seat he has won twice (in 2015 and 2020). Both times, he triumphed over BJP’s Satish Kumar, who previously claimed the seat from his mother Rabri Devi in 2010. His estranged elder brother is vying from Mahua, a seat he won for the RJD in 2015 before transitioning to Hasanpur in 2020.

This time, he is contesting under his newly formed Janshakti Janata Dal, following his expulsion over alleged anti-party conduct.

The initial phase of this electoral process is not just a high-stakes kickoff but also bears symbolic and substantial importance, featuring not only prominent matchups but also fierce local contests influenced by caste and welfare politics, alongside a contentious backdrop involving candidates with severe criminal allegations.

One notable case is that of Anant Singh, a JD(U) candidate from Mokama, who was arrested last week for his alleged role in the recent death of Dularchand Yadav, a supporter of Jan Suraaj, during a clash. Should he be convicted, he risks disqualification from candidacy. He is currently facing over 28 legal cases, including charges of murder, attempted murder, criminal intimidation, and rioting, as reported by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and Bihar Election Watch in their analysis of candidates' self-disclosed affidavits.

Singh submitted his nomination this time after being cleared by the Patna High Court regarding a conviction under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

Other constituencies participating in this phase include Begusarai, previously known as the “Leningrad of Bihar”, which reflects decades of robust Left-wing organization, trade-union presence, and a Marxist political culture. However, political realignments in the 1990s diminished the Left's influence.

In 2020, the BJP gained this seat, maintaining dominance with the exception of the 2025 elections. The current BJP MLA Kundan Kumar is again contesting against Congress candidate Amita Bhushan.

Notable personalities in this phase include JD(U) state president Umesh Kushwaha and RJD’s Bhola Yadav, a close associate of party head Lalu Prasad.

Additionally, there are public figures entering the contest, such as Bhojpuri actor Khesari Lal Yadav (RJD) and renowned folk singer Maithili Thakur (BJP).