As Bihar gears up for the 2025 Assembly Elections, political parties are striking a balance between youthful enthusiasm and seasoned experience. While several young Gen Z candidates have been fielded to represent fresh energy, many veteran politicians above the age of 70 — even 75 — are also in the fray, aiming to make one last remarkable mark on their political careers.

Experience vs. Youth in the First Phase

In the first phase, voting will be held for 121 constituencies across 18 districts. Major political forces such as Janata Dal United (JDU), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), and the Communist Party of India (CPI) have emphasized experience, nominating several elderly leaders.
Reports suggest that at least 10 candidates are above 71 years old, and four of them are older than 75. The oldest candidate this year is 78 years old.

Among the senior-most contenders are Harinarayan Singh and Awadh Bihari Chaudhary, both seasoned names in Bihar’s politics.

Veterans in the Race

• Harinarayan Singh (JDU) – Contesting from Harnaut, Nalanda, Singh has already fought 12 elections and won 8 of them. This time, he aims for a record ninth victory.

• Awadh Bihari Chaudhary (RJD) – Aged 78, the veteran leader is contesting from Siwan and remains a significant player in the RJD camp.

• Pannalal Patel (JDU) – At 76 years, he is contesting from Beldaur, having previously served as an MLA from both Chautham and Beldaur constituencies.

• Ramratan Singh (CPI) – The 75-year-old candidate from Teghra continues to represent the Left’s old guard in Bihar politics.

Other Senior Candidates Above 70

The list of leaders above 70 years includes:

• Narendra Narayan Yadav (JDU) – 74 years, contesting from Alamnagar, a seven-time MLA.

• Krishna Murari Sharan (JDU) – 74 years, from Hilsa.

• Raghavendra Pratap (BJP) – 72 years, from Barhara.

• Gunjeshwar Sah (JDU) – 72 years, from Maheshpur.

• Shyam Rajak (JDU) – 71 years, from Phulwari.

• Awadhesh Kumar Rai (CPI) – 71 years, from Bachhwara.

Interestingly, the average age of elderly candidates across the two major alliances — NDA and Grand Alliance — stands at 78 years.

Youth vs. Experience: Age Divide Between Alliances

On the younger end of the spectrum, the BJP has fielded its youngest candidate — 25-year-old Maithili Thakur from Alinagar, while the Grand Alliance has a 28-year-old candidate as its youngest face.
According to affidavits filed with the Election Commission, the average age of NDA candidates in the first phase is around 52 years, while the Grand Alliance’s average age is 50 years.

• NDA: 15 candidates aged 65+

• Grand Alliance: 9 candidates aged 65+

Breaking it down further:

• JDU: 11 candidates over 65

• RJD: 5

• BJP: 4

• CPI: 3

• Congress: 1

The Rise of Gen Z Leaders

Alongside the senior heavyweights, parties are also betting on young Gen Z aspirants — those born between 1997 and 2012. Leading the youth brigade is Maithili Thakur, the Bhojpuri folk singer who joined the BJP recently.
At just 25 years, she is contesting her first election from Alinagar.

Other young faces include:

• Raveena Kushwaha (JDU) – 27 years, from Vibhutinagar, Samastipur.

• Shivani Shukla (RJD) – 28 years, from Lalganj, Vaishali.

• Deepu Singh (RJD) – 28 years, from Sandesh, Bhojpur.
  In total, six more candidates under 30 are contesting in the first phase.

Bihar’s Political Experiment: Youth Meets Wisdom

The first phase of voting will be held on November 6, followed by the second phase on November 11 for the remaining 122 seats.
As the countdown begins, Bihar’s voters are set to decide whether the digital-savvy Gen Z generation or the seasoned political veterans will shape the state’s future.
Will experience triumph over energy, or will youth redefine Bihar’s leadership? The answer lies in the ballot box.