Bihar Assembly polls: Denied ticket to contest, candidates allege demands for money in the INDIA bloc

Ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections, dissent grew in the National Democratic, Inclusive Alliance of India (INDIA) bloc on Sunday over the distribution of contest tickets.

Mohammad Afaque Alam, Congress MLA from Kasba, has leveled a serious allegation against Bihar Congress supremo Krishna Allavaru, Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee (BPCC) president Rajesh Ram and Congress Legislature Party leader Shakeel Ahmed Khan after his ticket was rejected. Alleging that senior Bihar Congress leaders were blackmailing him for tickets, Mr. Alam demanded an inquiry from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

On Saturday night, October 18, 2025, the Congress Election Committee announced the names of five more candidates and the party nominated Muhammad Irfan Alam for Kasba Assembly constituency to replace the three-time serving MLA.

“The clean image of the party has been tarnished. I would like to state very clearly that the money was usurped by Rajesh Ram, Allavaru and Shakeel Ahamed Khan. There are other leaders who did this too. Mahagathbandhan (The ‘Grand Alliance’) is not pure. Rahul Gandhi…ji Ticket distribution must be intervened and investigated,” Mr. Afaque Alam said in a video message posted on social media.

Later in the day, an audio clip of Mr. Afaque Alam allegedly speaking to Mr. Ram in a phone call went viral on social media. In the audio clip, Mr. Afaque Alam is heard requesting the BPCC chairman to intervene and talk to the party’s senior leaders in Delhi to give him the punishment.

In the audio clip, Mr Ram is heard expressing his helplessness and saying that he had already done his best and even signed his document, but some people at the party were busy “in other ways”. In the audio clip, Mr Ram is heard saying that his hands are tied and that the senior party leadership “is not listening to him”.

Mr. Ram was heard saying that Purnea MP Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav was also involved in the selection of Mr. Irfan Alam, who is reportedly close to the MP. On Friday, a video of Mr. Pappu Yadav and Mr. Irfan Alam went viral on social media. Kasba Assembly constituency falls under Purnea district.

On Saturday, Anand Madhab, spokesman and head of BPCC’s investigation department, resigned from his post with immediate effect. Disgruntled party leaders, including a current MLA and a former MLA, had accused Mr Allavaru and Mr Ram of “selling party tickets”.

Similar situations occurred in the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). Madan Prasad, who contested the previous Assembly elections from Madhuban Assembly constituency, was seen crying for the ticket. Mr. Prasad tore his kurta in front of former Prime Minister Rabri Devi’s residence and lay on the road.

Mr. Prasad alleged that RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav’s political advisor and Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Yadav denied him the ticket as he did not pay the demanded amount. “He told me to pay ₹2.7 crore for the ticket but I refused; Sanjay Yadav sold the ticket,” alleged Mr. Prasad.

Another RJD leader Ritu Jaiswal, who was upset about being denied the ticket and contested the 2020 Assembly elections from Parihar Assembly seat, said she would contest as an independent candidate. Ms. Jaiswal wrote on social media platform

The ticket was given to Smita Purve, daughter-in-law of former RJD State chief Ramchandra Purve.

Ms. Jaiswal confirmed her intentions in a later post. “I would like to inform all the respected voters of Parihar Assembly constituency that I will be filing my candidacy as an independent candidate. [candidate] From Parihar Assembly constituency tomorrow morning. I request all my friends, well-wishers and supporters to attend in large numbers and convey their prayers,” said Ms. Jaiswal.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Deputy Prime Minister Samrat Choudhary examined the INDIA block. “It is not known whether the alliance has been established or not. The real question is whether the alliance has been established or not. Mahagathbandhan Whether it exists or not,” Mr. Choudhary said.

It was published – 19 October 2025 21:00 IST