Bihar assembly elections: NDA finalises seat-sharing; BJP, JD(U) to contest on 101 seats each

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Sunday (October 12) finalised its seat-sharing for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections. The BJP and Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)) will contest 101 seats each in the 243-member Assembly.

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) will contest 29 seats, while Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) and Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) will get six seats each.

Pradhan, the Bihar election in-charge, said the seat-sharing talks were cordial and welcomed by all NDA allies.

“The NDA allies have completed the distribution of seats in a cordial atmosphere. All workers and leaders of NDA parties warmly welcome this. Bihar is ready and an NDA government will be formed again,” Pradhan tweeted.

More from India

Bihar assembly elections: Polls to be held in two phases on Nov 6 and 11, results on November 14 Why Great Nicobar project is crucial for India in Indo-Pacific Great Game

For the first time, JD(U) will not contest more seats than the BJP, signalling a shift in the alliance’s balance of power.

The announcement also ends disputes within the NDA, particularly with HAM, led by Union Minister and former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, and RLM, which had threatened to contest separately in the two-phase polls on November 6 and 11.

In 2020, JD(U) had contested 115 seats and BJP 110, while Paswan had contested separately. HAM had initially rejected the proposed seat allocation, demanding at least 15 seats, but sources confirmed it will contest six seats this time. Pradhan also mentioned that HAM may contest one MLC seat in the future.

Impact Shorts

More Shorts

India must factor nuclear threats into its security calculus: CDS Chauhan

Moody’s keeps India’s rating steady at Baa3, highlights growth and fiscal balance

Manjhi had clarified that his party preferred to stay out of the polls if it was not allotted a “respectable number” of seats, adding that he was “requesting, not demanding.” Following the agreement, he left for Patna.

Meanwhile, the opposition INDIA bloc, aiming to end Nitish Kumar’s rule, denied any rift among its constituents.

“Everything is well and everything has been done. There will be a press conference tomorrow and everything will be revealed,” RJD MLA Bhai Virendra said.

Tensions between the Congress and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) were highlighted when a photo of RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav and Congress’s Akhilesh Prasad Singh chatting on a flight from Patna to Delhi went viral. Lalu Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav were also on the same flight.