Tue Oct 21 02:54:46 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text, followed by a news article based on it:

Summary:

The nomination filing deadline for the second phase of the Bihar Assembly elections has passed, revealing a fractured INDIA bloc alliance. The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has announced all its candidates, some of whom will compete against other INDIA bloc members. The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) has withdrawn from the election, alleging a political conspiracy by its allies, RJD and Congress, over seat allocation. The Election Commission reports over 1,300 candidates are in the running for the first phase. Additionally, an RJD candidate, Satendra Sah, was arrested immediately after filing his nomination, marking the third such incident for INDIA bloc candidates.

News Article:

INDIA Bloc Fractures Emerge as Bihar Assembly Nomination Deadline Passes

Patna, Bihar – October 21, 2025 – The deadline for filing nomination papers for the second and final phase of the Bihar Assembly elections has closed, revealing significant fractures within the INDIA bloc opposition alliance.

The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has released its full list of 143 candidates, including 24 women and 16 Muslim candidates. However, in a sign of discord, at least five RJD candidates are set to contest against nominees from other constituents of the INDIA bloc, raising questions about the alliance’s cohesion. The Congress party has announced its final list of six candidates, bringing its total to 60.

In a dramatic development, Jharkhand’s ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) has announced its withdrawal from the Bihar elections. The party alleges a “political conspiracy” by its INDIA bloc partners, the RJD and Congress, claiming it was unfairly deprived of seats within the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance). The JMM’s decision throws further doubt on the solidity of the INDIA bloc in Bihar.

“The decision was taken with heavy heart. I respect the decision of the party,” JMM chief Hemant Soren said about the announcement.

According to the Election Commission of India, a total of 1,314 candidates remain in the fray for the first phase of the elections, covering 121 constituencies.

Adding to the INDIA bloc’s woes, RJD candidate Satendra Sah was arrested immediately after filing his nomination papers from the Sasaram Assembly seat. Police officials cited a non-bailable warrant pending against Sah in Jharkhand. This is the third instance of an INDIA bloc candidate being arrested post-nomination, raising concerns about candidate vetting processes.

The Bihar Assembly elections are scheduled to begin on November 6th. As nomination filings conclude, the fractured state of the INDIA bloc casts a shadow over the opposition’s ability to mount a unified challenge to the ruling coalition.

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