Bihar elections: Key constituencies & big battles

• Bihar's first phase elections on November 6, 2025, cover 121 constituencies.
• Key players include Tejashwi Yadav (RJD), Samrat Choudhary (BJP), and Tej Pratap Yadav.
• Notable contests include Raghopur, Tarapur, and Mahua among others with tight races.

New Delhi: Bihar is all set to vote in the first phase across 121 constituencies on November 6, 2025. This phase is expected to set the tone for the high-stakes

polls, with several prominent faces in the fray including Mahagathbandhan's CM face Tejashwi Yadav, incumbent Deputy CM and BJP leader Samrat Choudhary, and Lalu Yadav's elder son and former Bihar minister Tej Pratap Yadav among others. Let’s take a look at 7 crucial seats going to polls in the first round:

Raghopur | RJD's Tejashwi Yadav vs BJP's Satish Kumar

Mahagathbandhan's CM face and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav is contesting from Raghopur, where he is once again pitted against BJP's Satish Kumar.

Prashant Kishor-led Jan Suraaj Party's Chanchal Singh and Tej Pratap Yadav-led JJD candidate Prem Kumar are also in the fray.

Raghopur is considered a safe seat for Tejashwi Yadav, who has won it in the last two elections. In 2015, he defeated BJP's Satish Kumar Yadav by over 20,000 votes. In 2020, he extended his margin to over 30,000 votes again against Satish Kumar.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prDmNtA0ggo

Tarapur | BJP's Samrat Choudhary vs RJD's Arun Shah In Tarapur, BJP leader and incumbent Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary is up against RJD's Arun Shah. Tej Pratap-led JJD's Sukhdev Yadav and JSP's Dr. Santosh Singh are also contesting. The seat has traditionally been a JD(U) stronghold, with victories in 2015, 2020, and the 2021 bypoll. In 2015 and 2020, JDU’s Mewalal Chaudhary won the seat, while in 2021, JDU fielded Rajeev Kumar Singh. This time, BJP has taken the lead in the alliance, fielding Samrat Choudhary instead of JDU. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eRF1XTqLtE Mahua | JJD's Tej Pratap Yadav vs RJD's Mukesh Raushan vs LJP (Ram Vilas) Sanjay Kumar Singh Mahua is set for a triangular contest between Tej Pratap Yadav (JJD), RJD’s Mukesh Raushan, and LJP (Ram Vilas)’s Sanjay Kumar Singh. Jan Suraaj Party’s Indrajeet Pradhan is also in the fray. The seat has been with RJD in the last two elections. In 2015, Tej Pratap Yadav won it as an RJD candidate. In 2020, Mukesh Raushan retained it for RJD, winning by nearly 14,000 votes. Alinagar | BJP's Maithili Thakur vs RJD's Binod Mishra Alinagar is another interesting contest in Phase 1. BJP has fielded folk singer-turned-politician Maithili Thakur, who recently joined the party, against RJD’s Binod Mishra. It’s a tough challenge for Maithili Thakur, as NDA (JDU or BJP) hasn’t won this seat in the last two elections. In 2015, RJD’s Abdul Bari Siddiqui won here, while in 2020, VIP’s Mishri Lal Yadav defeated RJD’s Binod Mishra. JSP’s Biplaw Chaudhary is also contesting.

Patna Sahib | Congress’ Shashank Shekhar vs BJP's Ratnesh Kushwaha

Patna Sahib Assembly seat will witness a fresh contest as BJP has replaced its longest-serving MLA Nand Kishore Yadav with 45-year-old lawyer Ratnesh Kushwaha. He is up against Congress’ Shashank Shekhar, 35, who is contesting his first election.

Patna Sahib is an urban constituency and a BJP stronghold. Nand Kishore Yadav had held the seat consistently since its formation after the 2008 delimitation.

Lakhisarai | BJP’s Vijay Kumar Sinha vs JSP's Suraj Kumar

Lakhisarai is a BJP stronghold, with incumbent Deputy CM Vijay Kumar Sinha winning the seat consistently since 2015.

In 2025, BJP has retained Sinha to face off against Prashant Kishor-led JSP’s Suraj Kumar.

The constituency lies in rural Bihar, known for its Sindoor production, fertiliser and pesticide factories, rice mills, and iron rod and sand industries.

Arrah | BJP's Sanjay Singh aka Tiger vs JSP's Vijay Kumar Gupta

In Arrah, BJP has replaced its 2020 winning candidate Amrendra Pratap Singh with Sanjay Singh (aka Tiger), who is up against JSP’s Vijay Kumar Gupta. CPI (ML)’s Quyamuddin Ansari is also contesting.

Arrah has seen power shift between BJP and RJD in past elections and cannot be considered a stronghold for any single party.