The political fate of Keoti assembly constituency in Bihar's Darbhanga district was decided as counting began for the 2025 state elections. This crucial seat witnessed a direct contest between the Bharatiya Janata Party's sitting MLA Murari Mohan Jha and Rashtriya Janata Dal's Faraz Fatmi, among other candidates.
Election Background and Voting Pattern
Keoti constituency went to polls on November 06, 2025 during the first phase of Bihar's two-phase assembly elections. The voting for 243 seats across the state was conducted on November 06 and November 11, with counting scheduled for November 14.
Bihar recorded an impressive 57.3% voter turnout this election cycle, showing a slight increase compared to the 2020 assembly polls. This indicates heightened political engagement among the electorate despite various challenges.
Key Candidates in the Fray
The electoral battle in Keoti featured several prominent candidates representing major political parties. The BJP fielded Murari Mohan Jha, who previously won this seat in the 2020 elections. The Rashtriya Janata Dal nominated Faraz Fatmi, while the newly formed Jan Suraaj Party put forward Biltu Sahni as their candidate.
Other contestants included Balaram Thakur (Independent), Dhirendra Kumar Dheeraj (Independent), Gulab Babu Rain (Independent), Manoj Kumar Mahto (BSP), Mohammad Anisur Rahman (All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen), Mohammad Pintu Khan (Akhil Bharatiya Socialist Party), and Yogesh Ranjan (Proutist Sarva Samaj).
Historical Context and Previous Results
In the 2020 assembly elections, Murari Mohan Jha of BJP secured victory by a margin of 5,126 votes against RJD's Abdul Bari Siddiqui. Jha polled 76,372 votes while Siddiqui managed to get 71,246 votes.
The constituency has witnessed changing political allegiances over the years. In 2015, Faraz Fatmi emerged victorious, while in 2010, Ashok Kumar Yadav won the seat, indicating the competitive nature of this constituency.
The 2025 elections saw regional alliances - the RJD-led Mahagathbandhan and the NDA comprising JD(U), BJP and other partners - battling for dominance in the state. Keoti constituency served as a crucial battleground in this larger political contest.
As counting progresses, political analysts are closely watching whether Murari Mohan Jha can retain his seat or if Faraz Fatmi can stage a comeback in this politically significant constituency of north Bihar.
