Jitan Ram Manjhi’s HAM retains seven seats and Upendra Kushwaha’s RLM six, mirroring the 2020 formula with minor adjustments to accommodate Chirag Paswan.
BY PC Bureau
New Delhi, October 11: After weeks of intense negotiations and internal deliberations, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has reportedly finalised its seat-sharing formula for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections. The arrangement, reached after several rounds of consultations between senior leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Janata Dal (United), and smaller allies, reflects a carefully calibrated balance aimed at keeping the coalition intact amid simmering differences.
According to reliable sources, Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) will contest 101 seats, while the BJP will field candidates in 100 constituencies. The Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), led by Chirag Paswan, has been allotted 29 seats. Significantly, the LJP (RV) list is said to include at least four constituencies of Chirag Paswan’s personal choice, which both the BJP and JD(U) have agreed to concede after protracted discussions.
In addition, Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) is likely to retain seven seats, mirroring its share from the 2020 assembly elections, while Upendra Kushwaha’s Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) is expected to contest six seats. Sources say the understanding was reached after final consultations between Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, and senior BJP leaders overseeing the Bihar campaign.
Balancing Act Within the NDA
The final seat distribution underscores the NDA’s attempt to maintain internal equilibrium in Bihar’s complex caste-driven political landscape. While the BJP and JD(U) have nearly equal shares, the inclusion of Chirag Paswan’s LJP (Ram Vilas) — once a bitter critic of Nitish Kumar — signals the BJP’s push to consolidate Dalit votes and prevent fragmentation within the NDA’s social base.
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Observers point out that Paswan’s bargaining success in securing four of his preferred constituencies highlights his renewed clout within the alliance, especially after the LJP’s 2020 split that had left the Paswan-led faction isolated. His return to the NDA fold, however, appears to have come with strategic concessions from both larger partners.
For Nitish Kumar, the 101-seat share marks a slight symbolic edge over the BJP, reaffirming his position as the alliance’s chief ministerial face despite recent strains between the two parties. The BJP, sources said, was willing to cede a few seats in the interest of “coalition stability” and to avoid a replay of 2020’s internal discord.
Formal Announcement Expected Soon
Senior leaders of all NDA allies are likely to make a joint announcement in Patna later this week, followed by region-wise coordination meetings to finalise candidates. “The discussions were tough but amicable,” a senior NDA insider said. “All allies have shown maturity, understanding the importance of unity at this critical juncture.”
Political analysts say the arrangement reflects a pragmatic power-sharing compromise ahead of a high-stakes election that will test the alliance’s unity and Nitish Kumar’s hold over Bihar’s governance narrative.
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