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Key Points

Nitish Kumar has directly announced Santosh Kumar Nirala as the JD(U) candidate for Rajpur reserved constituency. The Chief Minister made the declaration during a public meeting in Buxar, appealing to voters for Nirala's victory. He contrasted his government's work with the previous Lalu-Rabri regime, emphasizing Bihar's progress. This move comes even as the NDA continues to finalize seat-sharing arrangements for the upcoming assembly elections.

Key Points: Nitish Kumar Backs Santosh Nirala for Rajpur Seat in Bihar Polls

  • Nitish Kumar announces JD(U) candidate ahead of NDA seat-sharing formula
  • CM invokes Lalu-Rabri regime to contrast past governance
  • Rajpur seat witnessed close triangular contest in 2020 elections
  • Nirala previously served as Transport Minister in Nitish cabinet
2 min read

Nitish Kumar announces JD(U) candidate from Rajpur seat, backs Santosh Kumar Nirala

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar announces JD(U) candidate Santosh Kumar Nirala for Rajpur constituency, invoking Lalu-Rabri era while appealing for NDA victory.

"We request you, please pay attention, make him (Santosh Nirala) win - Nitish Kumar"

Patna, Sep 6

Even as the NDA grapples with finalising seat-sharing arrangements for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, Chief Minister and JD(U) National President Nitish Kumar has gone ahead with his party’s preparations.

On Saturday, while addressing a public meeting in Buxar, Nitish Kumar announced former minister Santosh Kumar Nirala as the NDA candidate from the Rajpur (Reserved) constituency.

Pointing to Nirala during his speech, the Chief Minister appealed directly to the people to ensure his victory.

“We request you, please pay attention, make him (Santosh Nirala) win. If you so want, we will get elected in large numbers. These Congress people have created a lot of chaos — have they done any work to date? They only created trouble. Now see, everyone is working,” Nitish said.

In his address, the Chief Minister once again invoked memories of the Lalu-Rabri regime, urging voters to compare the past with his government’s work.

“What was there in Bihar 20 years ago? Now, good work is happening everywhere. With the support of the Centre, we will take Bihar forward. Bihar will not remain behind—it will once again be at the forefront in the country,” Nitish added.

The Rajpur (SC) seat in Buxar district has witnessed tough contests in the past.

In the 2020 Assembly elections, Congress candidate Vishwanath Ram defeated JD(U)’s Santosh Kumar Nirala by 21,204 votes.

Vishwanath Ram obtained 67,871 votes while Santosh Kumar Nirala got 46,667 votes and Sanjay Ram of the BSP got 43,836 votes.

In the 2015 Assembly Elections, contesting under the Grand Alliance, Santosh Kumar Nirala defeated the BJP’s Vishwanath Ram by 32,788 votes and later served as Transport Minister in the Nitish Kumar Cabinet.

By announcing Nirala’s name ahead of the NDA’s official seat-sharing formula, Nitish Kumar has sent a strong message to both allies and rivals.

The Rajpur constituency, which saw a close triangular fight in 2020, is expected to be one of the high-stakes battles in the upcoming polls.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Good to see Nitish ji taking charge. Bihar has definitely seen development under his leadership - roads, electricity, and education have improved. But I hope this candidate selection is based on merit and not just political calculations.
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Sarah B
The back-and-forth between parties is confusing for voters. Santosh Nirala was with Grand Alliance, then JD(U), lost last time, now being fielded again. Voters need stability and consistent leadership, not musical chairs.
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Vikram M
Rajpur constituency has seen close fights in the past. This time it will be interesting to see if Nitish's early announcement helps consolidate votes or creates resentment among other NDA partners. The margin was only 21k votes last time!
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Ananya R
While development is important, I wish politicians would focus more on their current work rather than constantly comparing with 20 years ago. We need forward-looking vision, not just criticism of the past.
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Michael C
The strategic timing of this announcement is noteworthy. By declaring the candidate before seat-sharing talks conclude, Nitish is positioning JD(U) strongly. This could either strengthen their bargaining position or create tensions within NDA.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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