New Delhi: Ending weeks of intense speculation and prolonged negotiations, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has finally announced its formal seat-sharing arrangement for the upcoming 243-member Bihar Assembly elections.
The key takeaway from the deal, which was posted on X by Union Minister and BJP’s Bihar in-charge Dharmendra Pradhan, is the absolute parity achieved between the alliance’s two major constituents: the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) or JDU. Both parties will contest 101 seats each.
The most significant hurdle in the negotiations, Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) or LJP(RV), successfully secured a substantial allotment of 29 seats. Paswan had been playing hardball, initially demanding a higher number based on his party’s performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, where they achieved a 100 per cent strike rate. The successful resolution with LJP(RV) involved the BJP and JDU making adjustments to their earlier proposed figures.
In addition to the three main parties, the remaining seats were allocated to the NDA’s smaller regional allies. Upendra Kushwaha’s Rashtriya Lok Morcha and former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Hindustan Awam Morcha (HAM) will contest 6 seats each.
The final agreement signals a strong display of unity within the ruling alliance as they head into the crucial state polls, aiming to counter the opposition’s challenge.
