Ticket distribution strategies sharpen as Bihar parties brace for fierce poll battle.
Bihar gears up for one of its most competitive Assembly elections, with political parties reshuffling ticket distribution in the face of anti-incumbency and fresh competition (Photo: Pinterest)
NEW DELHI: As Bihar approaches what is expected to be one of its most fiercely contested Assembly elections, political parties across the spectrum are fine-tuning their ticket distribution strategies, walking a tightrope between countering anti-incumbency sentiment and rewarding loyal performers who have delivered on the ground.
Despite being one of the smaller players in the 2020 Assembly elections, the Janata Dal (United) [JDU] successfully clinched the chief minister's chair with support from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). With a modest strength of just 43 MLAs, the party managed to retain political control, and it now appears poised to replicate that formula once again in 2025. According to party insiders, nearly 95% of JDU's sitting legislators are likely to be renominated, with only a few dropped due to unsatisfactory performance. Additionally, the party is also planning to introduce a few new faces to neutralize anti-incumbency anger in key constituencies. A senior JDU leader, requesting anonymity, told
The Sunday Guardian, "JDU traditionally avoids making sweeping changes in ticket distribution, and you can expect the same this time. However, those who have failed to deliver in the past five years are unlikely to be repeated. The focus will remain on giving tickets to our incumbent MLAs".
The Congress, which faced significant setbacks in the previous election but witnessed a few of its MLAs putting up spirited fights in tough constituencies, is also expected to reward these performers by re-nominating them. The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), which emerged as the single largest party in 2020, is similarly preparing to field most of its successful candidates again as part of a strategy to consolidate its voter base and strengthen its hold on the state's political landscape.
The BJP, on the other hand, is gearing up for a major overhaul of its candidate list. Sources within the party revealed to
The Sunday Guardian that a considerable number of sitting MLAs are likely to be denied tickets, especially those who have crossed the age of 70 or those whose performance has fallen short of expectations. The saffron party's list of candidates is expected to be the last among the major players to be released, as its leadership is currently evaluating internal performance assessments and constituency-level anti-incumbency trends before finalizing names.
Meanwhile, Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraj, gearing up for its first-ever Assembly election battle, is planning an early start. The party is expected to announce its list of candidates in the first week of October, even before the Election Commission announces the election schedule. By unveiling its candidates early, Jan Suraj aims to maximize grassroots-level outreach and project itself as a fresh political alternative in Bihar's crowded political field.
Political observers believe that the upcoming election is shaping up to be one of the most complex and competitive contests in Bihar's history. "For JDU and BJP, it is a battle for political supremacy and a test of their ability to overcome anti-incumbency. For Congress and RJD, it is a fight for prestige and future relevance. And for Jan Suraj, it is a defining moment to establish its identity in state politics," a seasoned analyst told
The Sunday Guardian. A strong performance by Kishor's party could disrupt traditional equations and make the electoral battle even more unpredictable. He added that with stakes higher than ever, Bihar is now preparing for a high-octane political showdown—one where the distribution of tickets could play a decisive role in shaping the final outcome.
