There will be a close fight between the Grand Alliance and the BJP in the by-elections to be held on November 3 on the vacant seats of Mokama and Gopalganj. At the same time, with the issuance of the notification for the by-elections to be held on these two seats, the nomination started. For both Gopalganj and Mokama seats, candidates will be able to file nominations till October 14. The date of scrutiny has been fixed on October 15.

The BJP has indicated to field its candidates in both the seats. The election committee of the party will meet within one to two days. The names of the candidates will be formally announced after the consent of the National Election Committee based in Delhi on the names sent from here. According to party sources, BJP can field former candidate from Mokama assembly seat, local Lalan Singh. On the Gopalganj seat, the wife of former minister Subas Singh can be made a candidate.

On the other hand, there seems to be an agreement to field a common candidate in the Grand Alliance on both the seats. In Mokama seat, Neelam Devi, wife of former RJD MLA Anant Singh, can be made a candidate on RJD ticket. Neelam Devi recently met Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav. However, so far no party has officially declared the name of its candidate. More or less the same situation seems to be happening regarding the seat of Gopalganj. Congress leaders within the Grand Alliance have spoken of fielding a common candidate.

No party or candidate filed nomination on the first day for the by-election to be held on November 3. The process of nomination for Mokama and Gopalganj assembly by-elections has started from Friday. Election officers have been appointed by the Election Commission in both the constituencies. On the first day, the officials kept waiting for the nomination. The last date for nominations has been fixed as October 14. The date of scrutiny of nomination papers is fixed on 15 and withdrawal of nomination on 17.