The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Bihar has successfully concluded its seat-sharing talks, a crucial step before the upcoming state elections. The BJP and JDU have reportedly agreed to the seat demands of their smaller allies, including Chirag Paswan’s LJP-RV and Jitan Ram Manjhi’s HAM, solidifying the coalition’s unity for the voting on November 6 and 11.
According to emerging reports, Chirag Paswan’s LJP-RV has accepted an allocation of 26 seats. This comes after the party’s initial claim for 35 seats, which was based on their substantial participation (135 seats) and electoral impact in the 2020 assembly polls. The agreed-upon figure signifies a resolution to the negotiation process.
Jitan Ram Manjhi’s HAM is expected to field candidates in eight seats, a slight increase from their previous election count, despite reportedly asking for 15. Upendra Kushwaha’s RLJP is also set to receive a considerable number of seats, with seven allocations anticipated. These confirmed seats for allies bring the total to 41. The remaining 202 seats of the 243-member Bihar assembly will be shared between the BJP and the JDU, with each major party likely to contest around 100-101 seats.
Leaders from the BJP are currently in the national capital to finalize the coalition’s strategy and prepare for an official announcement. A statement from the Bihar Deputy Chief Minister underscored the alliance’s commitment to forming a government dedicated to efficient governance and ethical politics.
The electoral arena in Bihar will witness a primary contest between the NDA, represented by the BJP and JDU, and the INDIA bloc, with Tejashwi Yadav’s RJD at its helm. The INDIA bloc also includes the Congress, CPI-ML, CPI, CPM, and VIP. Adding another dimension, Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj has declared its intention to contest all 243 seats. The final results are scheduled to be announced on November 14.