The Bihar Assembly elections brought to the fore a striking mix of political veterans, caste leaders, debutants, and controversial strongmen who captured a lot of attention during the campaign. Here is how they performed:
Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary was one of the most talked-about candidates in the Bihar elections after Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor’s allegations that he falsified his age in an affidavit, involvement in an old murder case, and his educational qualifications.
Contesting his first Assembly election in 15 years from Tarapur, Choudhary defeated his nearest rival, Arun Kumar of the RJD, by more than 45,000 votes. A Koeri/Kushwaha leader, he represents one of the state’s most influential OBC groups, central to recent political realignments. His father, Shakuni Choudhary, served multiple terms as MLA and MP, while his mother, Parvati Devi, is a former Tarapur MLA.
Choudhary began his political career with the RJD and entered the Rabri Devi Cabinet in 1999 as a minister without being a legislator. He won his first Assembly election in 2000 from Parbatta on an RJD ticket and again in 2010. In 2014, he moved to the JD(U), serving as Urban Development and Housing Minister in the Jitan Ram Manjhi government. He joined the BJP in 2017 and quickly rose through the organisation, becoming an MLC, state vice-president, and eventually state president in March 2023.
Tej Pratap Yadav (Janshakti Janata Dal, lost)
Ousted from the RJD and its “first family” in May, Lalu Prasad’s elder son Tej Pratap Yadav floated the Janshakti Janata Dal and contested the Mahua seat on its ticket, finishing third behind the LJP (RV) and the RJD.
His political career began in 2015 when he won Mahua, defeating Ravindra Ray of the HAM(S) by more than 28,000 votes. He served as Health Minister from November 2015 to July 2017, and is credited with initiating the establishment of a government medical college and hospital in Mahua.
In 2020, he shifted to Hasanpur, defeating JD(U)’s Raj Kumar Ray by over 21,000 votes. After the RJD-JD(U) reunion in 2022, he returned as Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change. He launched the JJD in September after initially announcing an Independent run.
Tej Pratap was in the news earlier this year after he was expelled from the party by his father over some social media posts about his personal life. Tej Pratap had married Aishwarya Rai, the daughter of former minister Chandrika Roy, in 2018, but the marriage collapsed within months amid allegations of domestic violence. Their divorce proceedings remain pending.
Anant Singh (JDU, won)
Anant Singh, a Bhumihar strongman long influential in the Mokama region, made news during the campaign after being arrested in connection with a killing during a political clash. Contesting from Mokama, known locally as the “Capital of Bhumihars,” the JD(U) leader defeated the RJD’s Veena Devi by over 30,000 votes.
Nicknamed “Chhote Sarkar,” Singh has more than 50 criminal cases since 1979, including allegations of murder, kidnapping, and extortion. In 2015, he was arrested after a major police operation and was later booked under the UAPA following the seizure of an AK-47 and grenades in a 2019 raid. Sentenced to 10 years in 2022, he was acquitted in 2024 due to lack of evidence, clearing the way for his return to politics.
He has had five stints in jail. His release during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections drew attention when he was seen campaigning for JD(U) leader Lalan Singh.
His political legacy traces back to his elder brother Dilip Singh, known locally as “Bade Sarkar,” who contested from Mokama in the 1980s. After Dilip died in 2006, Anant consolidated his hold over the constituency, contesting for various parties and as an Independent. After his 2022 conviction, his wife won the seat in a bypoll on the RJD ticket.
Maithili Thakur (BJP, won)
Maithili Thakur, one of the most recognisable voices of Mithilanchal and was among the youngest candidates in the elections, contesting for the BJP from Alinagar. She defeated the RJD’s Binod Mishra by over 11,000 votes.
A household name across northern India, Thakur is known for her renditions of Maithili, Bhojpuri, Hindi and Sufi music — sohars, nirgun geet, bhajans, Ram-Seeta vivah geet, kajris, horis, chaitis, ghazals and devotional music — often accompanied by her brothers Rishav and Ayachi. Her popularity surged during the Ram Temple consecration in Ayodhya after her Ram bhajan videos went viral. She now has millions of followers across YouTube, Instagram and Facebook.
Osama Shahab (RJD, won)
Osama Shahab, the son of late RJD strongman Shahabuddin, made his electoral debut from Raghunathpur in Siwan district, drawing intense attention as the NDA attacked the RJD for “rewarding” families with criminal backgrounds.
Osama defeated JD(U)’s Vikash Kumar Singh by over 9,000 votes. His candidature was seen as the RJD’s attempt to regain ground in a constituency with a sizable 24–25% Muslim population.
His nomination followed months of reconciliation efforts with the Shahabuddin family after relations soured following the Siwan strongman’s death in 2021. The rapprochement began in August 2024 when Lalu Prasad met Shahabuddin’s wife Hena Shahab. Two months later, Hena and Osama formally joined the RJD.