The political atmosphere in Bihar continues to grow tense as the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) finalizes its seat-sharing arrangement for the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections. Despite this, internal friction within the alliance remains evident. Sources have revealed that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is dissatisfied with the seat allocation, particularly the allocation of nine seats that the Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)) has objected to. The JD(U) has requested the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to reconsider these seats, leading to heightened tensions between the two parties.
Nitish Kumar’s Discontent with Seat Allocation
Nitish Kumar, the chief minister of Bihar and JD(U) leader, had initially been promised 103 seats. However, the final agreement under the NDA seat-sharing formula allocated only 101 seats to his party, and this discrepancy over the allocation of nine seats has caused significant unrest. These contested constituencies have reportedly been given to the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) [LJP(R)], which has sparked further displeasure within JD(U).
Nitish Kumar has expressed his reluctance to accept this redistribution of seats. Several of the contested constituencies are considered strongholds of JD(U), and Kumar had hoped that these traditional seats would remain with his party. Instead, these key seats have been reallocated to other NDA allies, a move that JD(U) leadership believes undermines the party’s position.
As a result, a late-night meeting was convened at the residence of JD(U)’s acting national president Sanjay Jha. During this meeting, Nitish Kumar reportedly instructed his party leaders to escalate the matter to the BJP’s top leadership. The tensions seem to be intensifying, with political insiders indicating that Union Home Minister Amit Shah is likely to visit Patna to address the dispute and find a resolution. However, no official confirmation has been given regarding this visit.
Disputes Over Specific Seats
The dispute between JD(U) and LJP (R) centers on two constituencies—Sonbarsa and Rajgir. These constituencies are currently held by JD(U) and are both reserved seats. However, LJP (R) has staked its claim to these seats under the new seat-sharing formula, which has angered JD(U) leaders. In a direct show of defiance, Nitish Kumar personally handed over the JD(U) symbol to Minister Ratnesh Sada, reaffirming his candidacy for the Sonbarsa seat. This move strongly signaled that JD(U) would not give up its claim to the seat. Ratnesh Sada is expected to file his nomination today, reinforcing the party’s determination to retain the seat.
JD(U) Finalizes Key Candidates
Despite the ongoing disputes, JD(U) has continued with its candidate selection process and finalized several key names for the upcoming elections. Anant Singh, known as a powerful political figure in the region, will contest from Mokama, with his nomination being filed today. Other confirmed candidates for JD(U) include Umesh Singh Kushwaha, Sunil Kumar, Shailesh Kumar, Damodar Rawat, Santosh Nirala, Siddharth Patel, Bijendra Prasad Yadav, and Ratnesh Sada. These candidates are seen as crucial to JD(U)’s efforts to retain its hold on constituencies across Bihar.
BJP Finalizes 48 Candidates
The BJP has also made significant progress in finalizing its candidate list for the 2025 Bihar elections. The party has cleared the nominations of 48 candidates, and it has directed 45 of them to file their nominations immediately. The BJP asserts that there are no disputes over these 48 seats, and the candidate selection process has been smooth.
One of the most prominent figures in this selection is Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary, who will contest from the Tarapur constituency in Munger. Chaudhary is expected to file his nomination on October 16 at 11 am, and his brother, Rohit Chaudhary, has stated that around 15,000 supporters are likely to attend the nomination ceremony. Senior leaders, including Nitish Kumar and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, are expected to be present at the event.
In addition to the high-profile candidacies, the BJP has also decided to replace some sitting MLAs. Patna City MLA Nand Kishore Yadav and Kumhrar MLA Arun Kumar will not be contesting in the upcoming elections. Instead, Sanjay Gupta has been nominated from Kumhrar, while Ratnesh Kushwaha is likely to contest from Patna City.
Mangal Pandey Likely to Contest from Siwan
Health Minister Mangal Pandey, who is currently a member of the Legislative Council, is expected to contest from Siwan on a BJP ticket. His candidacy is expected to strengthen the BJP’s position in the region, especially given the party’s focus on consolidating its influence in key constituencies.
Ongoing Meetings and Deliberations
The ongoing tensions between JD(U) and BJP have led to several rounds of meetings and discussions. On Monday, BJP state leaders met to discuss the seat-sharing arrangement, followed by a meeting attended by Union Minister and election in-charge Dharmendra Pradhan. Later in the evening, senior BJP leaders engaged in further discussions with JD(U)’s Sanjay Jha to resolve the disputes over seat allocations.
These meetings highlight the ongoing internal negotiations within the NDA as both parties attempt to resolve the disagreements before the official campaigning for the 2025 Bihar elections begins.
Giriraj Singh Criticizes Chirag Paswan
As tensions between NDA allies continue, Union Minister Giriraj Singh took a veiled jab at Chirag Paswan, leader of the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas). Singh commented, “Some people are talking about strike rates, but it was without them that the NDA made history in 2010.” He urged party workers to avoid “feel-good politics,” emphasizing that Nitish Kumar and Narendra Modi remain the central figures for the alliance in Bihar. Singh also recalled that in the 2010 Bihar Assembly elections, the NDA won a significant number of seats, with JD(U) securing 115 of the 141 seats contested and BJP winning 91 of the 102 seats. This victory, he noted, was unprecedented and has not been repeated since.
Political Mood: Fragile Unity
The ongoing rift between JD(U) and BJP underscores the fragile unity within the NDA as it prepares for the crucial Bihar elections. While both parties publicly claim that the alliance remains strong, the behind-the-scenes negotiations and disputes reveal a more complicated picture. As the elections approach, the internal divisions within the NDA could play a critical role in shaping the outcome. Both JD(U) and BJP are working hard to manage their disagreements while maintaining the appearance of unity.
As the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections draw near, the National Democratic Alliance faces significant challenges in managing internal disagreements. JD(U)’s objections to the seat-sharing arrangement and the tensions with LJP (R) over specific constituencies highlight the delicate balance the alliance must maintain. The BJP’s candidate selection process is progressing smoothly, but it remains to be seen whether the internal disputes can be resolved in time for the election campaign.
With key figures like Samrat Chaudhary and Mangal Pandey finalizing their candidacies, the BJP aims to make a strong impact in key constituencies. However, the ongoing rift within the alliance and the strategic adjustments made by both parties will play a crucial role in determining the success of the NDA in the upcoming Bihar elections.
As the election season intensifies, both JD(U) and BJP will need to address their differences and ensure that their alliance remains united in the face of what promises to be a fiercely contested election. The stakes are high, and the coming weeks will be crucial in shaping the political landscape of Bihar.
