The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) officially unveiled its roster of candidates for all but one of the 23 Lok Sabha constituencies in Bihar, where the party is participating as a crucial member of the opposition coalition known as Mahagathbandhan.
Among the RJD contenders are the daughters of party leader Lalu Prasad – Rohini Acharya and Misa Bharti – each set to vie for separate seats.
Rohini Acharya will enter the electoral fray from Saran, a constituency long held by her father until his disqualification in 2013 due to a conviction in the fodder scam case.
Misa Bharti, currently serving her second term in the Rajya Sabha, will seek election from the Patliputra Lok Sabha constituency.
However, the RJD is yet to name its candidate for Siwan, a constituency previously dominated by the late Mohd Shahubuddin. Shahubuddin's disqualification left a vacuum in the constituency, with his widow Heena unable to secure victory amidst reported tensions with the Prasad family.
Under the Mahagathbandhan's seat-sharing agreement, the RJD retains 26 of Bihar's 40 Lok Sabha seats, allocating nine to the Congress and five to the Left parties.
In a recent development, the RJD reached an agreement with former Bihar minister Mukesh Sahni's Vikashsheel Insaan Party, granting it three seats.
With the announcement, the RJD revealed candidates for 22 seats, including those scheduled for the first two phases of elections. Notably, Sudhakar Singh, Ali Asharaf Fatmi, and Surendra Prasad are among the declared nominees.
An intriguing addition to the list is Anita Kumari Mahto, who received the party's ticket after her marriage to notorious gangster Ashok Mahto. Facing legal constraints himself, Ashok Mahto's political aspirations had been curtailed.
The selection of candidates like Acharya, Bharti, Sudhakar Singh, Ali Asharaf Fatmi, and Surendra Prasad was reportedly endorsed earlier by RJD's leadership.
Further candidates include Kumar Sarvjeet, Shrawan Kumar Kushwaha, Bima Bharti, and Archana Ravidass, all of whom have filed their nominations.
Jai Prakash Yadava, Lalit Yadav, and Chandrahas Chaupal are also on the list, along with Vijay Kumar Shukla, Abhay Kumar Kushwaha, Shichandra Rai, and Shahnawaz Alam.
The RJD's lineup extends to Alok Kumar Mehta, Arjun Ai, Deepak Yadav, Ritu Jaiswal, and Kumar Chandradeep.
Bihar's Lok Sabha elections, spanning 40 constituencies, are scheduled across seven phases from April 19 to June 1.
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