JDU-RJD-Cong announces 242 candidates for Bihar polls

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced the list in Patna on the last day of nomination for the first phase of elections on October 12. Flanked by RJD Bihar president Ramchandra Purve, Congress state unit chief Ashok Choudhary and JDU state chief, Nitish Kumar claimed that all is well within the Mahagathbandhan unlike its rivals where massive rebellion marred ticket distribution.Targeting the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance, the Bihar Chief Minister accused it of playing divisive politics and not focusing on development.

While JDU and RJD are contesting 101 seats each, Congress has put up 41 candidates. Elections will take place in five phases on October 12, 15, 28, November 1 and 5.

Keeping their vote bank in mind, the Mahagathbandhan list has 56 percent candidates from the other backward castes, 16 percent Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, 16 percent forward castes and 14 percent Muslims