Chirag Paswan’s Surprise Bihar MLC Poll Move: Tickets Ashraf Ansari, Stuns Political Circles
The political atmosphere in Bihar has intensified ahead of the 2026 Legislative Council election, as the National Democratic Alliance has moved quickly to finalize its candidates. Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan has announced Ashraf Ansari, the party’s acting state president, as its candidate for the Bihar MLC election. According to the party’s official letter, the central parliamentary board approved Ansari’s name after detailed consideration. The decision is being seen in Bihar politics as an effort to strengthen the NDA’s social balance and consolidate Muslim support.
Before LJP (Ram Vilas) made its announcement, the BJP and Janata Dal (United) had already released their lists of four candidates each. The BJP made a notable choice by fielding popular Bhojpuri singer and star Pawan Singh, a move that has attracted wide attention. The party has also nominated its national media co-incharge Sanjay Mayukh, who has been given a ticket for the third consecutive time to the Legislative Council. In addition, the BJP has selected Anil Kumar Thakur from Purnia and Sheela Prajapati, signaling an attempt to reach across different social and regional groups.
On the other side, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) has named its candidates from several key areas. The party has fielded Nishant Kumar from Patna, Bharati Mehta from Madhubani, Shivarani Devi Prajapati from West Champaran, and Lallan Prasad from Sheikhpura. With these nominations, JD(U) is also trying to balance regional representation and community outreach.
With the latest announcement from Chirag Paswan’s party, the NDA has now fielded a total of nine candidates in the Bihar Legislative Council race. Party insiders believe all nine NDA nominees are likely to file their nominations together on the final day, June 8. A large show of strength is expected, with senior leaders from the BJP, JD(U), and LJP (Ram Vilas) likely to be present during the filing process.
The nomination deadline for the election has been set for June 8, making the coming days crucial for all parties involved. Voting for the Bihar Legislative Council election will take place on June 18. As the date approaches, the alliance’s candidate selection reflects a mix of political strategy, social engineering, and regional outreach, with each party aiming to strengthen its position in Bihar’s shifting political landscape.
