The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Sunday announced its seat-sharing arrangement for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, with the BJP and JD(U) contesting 101 seats each in the 243-member Assembly.

Union minister Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) has been allotted 29 seats, while Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) and Upendra Kushwaha’s Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) will contest six seats each.

Equal share for BJP and JD(U) after two decades

This marks the first time since 2005 that the BJP and JD(U) will contest an equal number of seats. In the 2005 Assembly elections, JD(U) had contested 139 and BJP 102 seats. Later, in 2010, JD(U) contested 141 and BJP 102 seats.

In 2020, JD(U) fielded candidates in 115 constituencies, while BJP contested 110. The latest arrangement, political observers said, aims to signal unity within the NDA and dispel speculation about internal rifts between Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) and the BJP.

The deal was finalised after extensive consultations in Delhi and Patna, involving senior NDA leaders, including BJP election in-charge Dharmendra Pradhan, Vinod Tawde, and Nityanand Rai, along with leaders from LJP, RLM, and HAM.

Chirag Paswan emerges as key gainer

Chirag Paswan, who had initially demanded 40 seats, eventually agreed to 29 seats after negotiations. However, BJP sources said the party conceded a few of its sitting seats to accommodate his request.

In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Chirag’s LJP (Ram Vilas) had a 100% strike rate, winning all five constituencies it contested, making him a key NDA ally in Bihar’s political landscape.

Meanwhile, HAM, which contested seven seats in the last Assembly election, settled for six this time. Manjhi accepted the decision, saying, “If we got only six seats, it is the decision of the high command. We accept it. I will stand with PM Narendra Modi ji till my last breath.”

Leaders hail unity within NDA

BJP’s Bihar in-charge Dharmendra Pradhan announced the deal on social media platform X, saying the seat distribution was completed amicably. JD(U) working president Sanjay Jha also confirmed, “We NDA colleagues have completed the distribution of seats in a cordial atmosphere. Leaders and workers of all NDA parties are resolved to make Nitish Kumar the Chief Minister again with a massive majority.”

LJP chief Chirag Paswan and RLM leader Upendra Kushwaha also shared the announcement online, emphasising that the deal was reached “in a spirit of cooperation and unity.”

AIMIM hints at third front

In a parallel development, the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) released its first list of 32 candidates, signalling the possible emergence of a third front in Bihar.

AIMIM’s Bihar chief Akhtarul Iman said the party would field candidates across multiple districts, including Kishanganj, Purnea, Katihar, Araria, Gaya, Motihari, Nawada, Jamui, Bhagalpur, Siwan, Darbhanga, Samastipur, Sitamarhi, Madhubani, Vaishali, and Gopalganj.

the RJD and Congress, is expected to finalise its seat-sharing formula within the next few days.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said discussions were in progress. “We have to adjust new partners in the alliance. In the next two to three days, we expect all seats to be finalised,” he said.

In the 2020 Assembly polls, Congress contested 70 seats and won 19, while the RJD contested 144 and secured 75 seats.