NDA finalises Bihar poll seats, Paswan included
Union Minister Pradhan said seat-sharing was conducted cordially, with all NDA partners expressing satisfaction and mutual agreement.
NDA Finalises Bihar Poll Seat-Sharing: BJP, JD(U) to Contest 101 Seats Each, LJP Gets 29
Patna: The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Sunday announced its seat-sharing arrangement for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, finalising a formula that reflects both negotiation and compromise among its partners. Under the agreement, BJP and JD(U) will contest 101 seats each, while Union Minister Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) will contest 29 seats. Two smaller allies, Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) and former Union Minister Upendra Kushwaha’s Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM), will contest six seats each.
The announcement comes after extensive deliberations in Delhi and Patna involving senior NDA leaders, including BJP election in-charge Dharmendra Pradhan, Vinod Tawde, and Nityanand Rai. Discussions also included consultations with LJP, RLM, and HAM leadership to ensure that the final arrangement was satisfactory to all parties.
LJP chief Chirag Paswan, who had initially demanded 40 seats for his party, ultimately agreed to the reduced share of 29 seats, highlighting the spirit of compromise and alliance cohesion. Pradhan noted that the seat-sharing exercise was conducted in a “cordial manner”, with all NDA partners expressing satisfaction with the outcome.
The final seat-sharing formula was formally announced by Union Minister and BJP’s Bihar election in-charge Dharmendra Pradhan, who shared the details on social media platform X, signalling transparency and outreach to the electorate ahead of the polls.
This arrangement also underscores a strategic shift in Bihar’s political landscape. In the 2015 Assembly polls, JD(U) had contested alongside the RJD and its allies, while in the 2020 elections, JD(U) contested 115 seats and BJP 110. By agreeing to contest an equal number of seats — 101 each — the two major NDA partners aim to send a strong message to voters that the alliance is united and free of internal disputes.
Chirag Paswan’s LJP (RV), which had contested independently in the 2020 elections, now re-enters the NDA fold with a reduced but significant presence. Meanwhile, HAM and RLM, though smaller in scale, maintain their foothold in the alliance, ensuring representation for regional voices and communities.
Political analysts believe that this balanced seat-sharing arrangement will help NDA consolidate its position in Bihar, while also preventing potential friction between its key allies. The meticulous negotiations reflect the importance of alliance unity in a state where electoral outcomes often hinge on coalition dynamics rather than single-party dominance.
As the NDA gears up for the 243-member Bihar Assembly elections, all eyes are now on campaigning strategies, seat-specific promises, and voter outreach programs that each party will deploy. With the alliance presenting a united front, the focus is expected to shift toward addressing public concerns, development agendas, and regional aspirations ahead of what promises to be a high-stakes electoral contest.