The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Bihar has concluded its seat-sharing agreement ahead of the crucial elections for the 243-member assembly. On Sunday, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will each contest 101 seats, while the remaining 41 seats will go to smaller coalition partners.
As part of this arrangement, the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), led by Union Minister Chirag Paswan, has secured 29 constituencies. Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM), under Jitan Ram Manjhi, will contest six seats, and the Rashtriya Lok Morcha, led by Upendra Kushwaha, will fight in six constituencies as well.
This marks a significant shift in the political landscape, as it is the first time since 2005, when Nitish Kumar took charge of the NDA, that the JD(U) will not contest more seats than the BJP. This change highlights the BJP’s rising influence in Bihar, while the JD(U) appears to be holding a diminished position.
According to BJP’s Bihar poll in-charge Dharmendra Pradhan, all coalition partners reached the decision “in a cordial manner.” He expressed confidence, stating, “Bihar is ready for another NDA government.” Echoing this sentiment, Paswan and Kushwaha, along with JD(U) leader Sanjay Kumar Jha, described the discussions as “amicable and unanimous.”
Despite prior reports indicating potential dissatisfaction among allies, Jitan Ram Manjhi embraced the distribution, affirming, “We are satisfied with what we have received… I will stay with Prime Minister Narendra Modi till my last breath.”
The previous 2020 assembly polls saw JD(U) contest 115 seats compared to BJP’s 110 seats. However, JD(U) managed to win only 43 seats while BJP secured a significant 74 seats. This unexpected outcome strained their alliance, leading to a temporary fallout where Nitish Kumar briefly exited the NDA.
The upcoming Bihar Assembly elections will unfold in two phases, scheduled for November 6 and 11, with counting set for November 14. This pivotal election comes as both parties brace for crucial battles in the assembly, impacting governance and political dynamics in Bihar.
