Why Was Seven-Time MLA Nand Kishore Yadav Omitted from BJP's Initial Candidate List?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- BJP's candidate list reflects a shift towards newer leadership.
- Nand Kishore Yadav has been replaced by Ratnesh Kushwaha.
- Voting for the Bihar Assembly elections will occur in two phases.
- The BJP has announced 71 candidates, with more to follow.
- Key figures like Deputy Chief Ministers are part of the first list.
Patna, Oct 14 (NationPress) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) unveiled its inaugural list of 71 candidates for the forthcoming Bihar Assembly elections on Tuesday, spotlighting several prominent figures, including Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha.
However, the seven-time MLA and Assembly Speaker Nand Kishore Yadav was notably absent from the candidate list for Patna Sahib.
Instead, the BJP has put forward Ratnesh Kushwaha as the nominee.
In response to this decision, Nand Kishore Yadav stated, "I respect the Bharatiya Janata Party’s choice. The party has provided me with immense support, and I harbor no grievances. I wholeheartedly welcome and congratulate the new generation. I am thankful to the electorate of Patna Sahib for their unwavering support over seven elections; I will always cherish the warmth and love I received."
Moreover, other notable figures like Minister Motilal Prasad from Riga and Ramsurat Rai from Aurai were also conspicuously missing from this initial list.
The BJP’s first list comprises both Deputy Chief Ministers, 12 ministers, 48 sitting MLAs, and a host of new entrants.
Deputy Chief Ministers Choudhary and Sinha are set to contest from Tarapur in Munger district and Lakhisarai, respectively.
Health Minister and MLC Mangal Pandey has been nominated from Siwan, while former JD(U) MP Sunil Kumar Pintu, who recently rejoined the BJP, will contest from Sitamarhi. Additionally, Arun Prasad has been allotted a ticket from Khajauli.
In alignment with the NDA’s seat-sharing framework, the BJP and JD(U) will compete for 101 seats each.
Union Minister Chirag Paswan’s LJP (Ram Vilas) has been allocated 29 seats, while Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi’s HAM (Secular) and Upendra Kushwaha’s RLM will each vie for six seats.
With 71 candidates announced, the BJP is anticipated to roll out its second list of 30 candidates shortly.
The Bihar Assembly elections are scheduled to take place in two phases, with voting on November 6 and November 11, followed by vote counting on November 14.