The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Bihar has officially finalized its seat-sharing arrangement for the critical Assembly elections scheduled for November. Both Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will contest 101 seats each. The remaining 41 seats will be distributed among minor allies, marking a pivotal shift in Bihar’s political landscape.
As per the recent agreement, the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), led by Union Minister Chirag Paswan, will contest 29 constituencies. Additionally, the Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) of Jitan Ram Manjhi will field candidates in six seats, while the Rashtriya Lok Morcha of Upendra Kushwaha will also contest six seats.
This arrangement marks the first instance since 2005, when Nitish Kumar first led the NDA to power, that the JD(U) will not contest more seats than the BJP. This change reflects the BJP’s increasing sway in Bihar along with the JD(U)’s declining influence in the state’s political arena.
BJP’s Bihar poll in-charge, Dharmendra Pradhan, commented on the decision, stating that all partners reached this conclusion “in a cordial manner.” He expressed confidence that “Bihar is ready for another NDA government.” Similar sentiments echoed from Paswan, Kushwaha, and JD(U) leader Sanjay Kumar Jha, who noted the negotiations as “amicable and unanimous.”
Despite prior hints of dissatisfaction among some partners, Jitan Ram Manjhi accepted the allocation. He expressed his commitment to the NDA, saying, “We are satisfied with what we have received… I will stay with Prime Minister Narendra Modi till my last breath.” This sentiment signifies a unified front among the NDA partners ahead of the elections.
The 2020 Assembly polls had shown JD(U) contesting 115 seats while the BJP stood at 110 with HAM contesting seven seats. The outcome resulted in JD(U) winning only 43 out of those contested while BJP secured 74, creating tensions that nearly caused Nitish Kumar to exit the NDA briefly.
The decision to finalize the seat-sharing arrangement indicates the NDA’s strategic focus on consolidating its position ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections, which will occur in two phases on November 6 and 11, with vote counting set to take place on November 14. This election cycle holds substantial importance as political dynamics continue to evolve in Bihar.
