JD(U) releases 2nd list; fields all 101 candidates

The Janata Dal (United) on Thursday released its second list of 44 candidates to complete the ticket distribution on all of its 101 seats as Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar headed for Samastipur and Darbhanga to kick off the party's poll campaign for the upcoming state assembly elections next month.

- Arun Kumar

Alongside the JD(U), the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) declared 15 candidates and Upendra Kushwaha’s Rashtriya Lok Manch announced two candidates With this, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has named its candidates on all 243 seats even as the Opposition’s Grand Alliance is yet to announce even its seat-sharing arrangement.

The last day for filing of nominations for the first phase of elections on November 6, when 121 seats go to the polls, is Friday. The second phase is on November 11 and the votes will be counted on November 14. Kumar is aiming for a fifth consecutive term.

The JD(U)'s second list contained six ministers and 17 sitting lawmakers, five turncoats and 27 fresh faces. It dropped three legislators and accommodated the sons or daughters of three leaders.