With the Bihar Assembly Election 2025 approaching, political activity in the state has intensified. On Thursday morning, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar met Union Home Minister Amit Shah at Hotel Maurya in Patna. The meeting is seen as crucial, especially with ongoing uncertainty about seat-sharing within the NDA alliance.
The Context of the Meeting
Five days earlier, BJP President JP Nadda had visited Patna for the BJP core committee meeting. However, Nadda returned to Delhi without meeting Nitish Kumar, sparking speculation about friction within the NDA. This new meeting between Shah and Nitish appears to be an attempt to iron out differences and prepare for the upcoming elections.
Seat-Sharing Disputes Within NDA
Seat-sharing remains the biggest challenge for the NDA in Bihar. Key allies like Chirag Paswan, Jitan Ram Manjhi, and Upendra Kushwaha have demanded larger shares of seats. So far, no consensus has been reached. Nitish Kumar and his JD(U) prefer to negotiate directly with BJP, leaving it to the larger party to handle smaller allies.
The JD(U) insists that the BJP manage seat negotiations with its partners. This approach reflects Nitish’s intent to keep JD(U)-BJP relations strong while avoiding direct disputes with other NDA members.
Amit Shah’s Role in Bihar Politics
Amit Shah arrived in Patna on Wednesday night to energize BJP’s election preparations. On Thursday, he scheduled meetings in Dehri and Begusarai with workers and leaders from 20 districts. These meetings are designed to finalize BJP’s core issues, campaign strategies, and messaging for Bihar Election 2025.
Shah is known as BJP’s chief strategist, and his presence signals the importance of Bihar for the party. The fact that he personally met Nitish Kumar highlights BJP’s willingness to maintain harmony within NDA before the elections.
NDA Seat-Sharing History
In the 2020 Bihar Assembly Elections, the BJP and JD(U) contested almost equally. BJP contested 121 seats, winning 74, while JD(U) contested 115 seats, winning 43. As part of the arrangement, JD(U) gave 7 of its seats to Jitan Ram Manjhi’s party. BJP gave 11 seats to Mukesh Sahani’s VIP from its share.
However, Chirag Paswan’s LJP had contested 135 seats independently, damaging JD(U)’s prospects in several constituencies. That move weakened Nitish Kumar’s position within NDA despite his party being a long-time ally.
Tensions and Speculations Before 2025 Polls
The fact that JP Nadda skipped a meeting with Nitish during his recent visit added fuel to speculation. Political observers believed it reflected unease over seat-sharing talks. However, Nitish’s decision to meet Amit Shah directly has calmed immediate concerns. The meeting suggests serious efforts to ensure the alliance remains intact ahead of the polls.
Importance of Bihar for BJP
Bihar remains a politically crucial state for BJP. It has 243 assembly seats and sends 40 MPs to the Lok Sabha. The state often plays a decisive role in shaping national politics. BJP cannot afford to lose ground here, especially ahead of the 2029 general elections.
Nitish Kumar continues to be a significant player in Bihar politics. Despite setbacks in 2020, his administrative record and long experience make him valuable for NDA. By keeping him engaged, BJP strengthens its chances of maintaining control in Bihar.
Amit Shah’s Strategy Meetings
During his Bihar visit, Amit Shah is expected to provide a “victory mantra” to party workers. His meetings in Dehri and Begusarai are designed to inspire local cadres and sharpen BJP’s attack lines. Shah is likely to emphasize national schemes, development projects, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership to energize the campaign.
Meanwhile, Nitish Kumar will focus on his governance record and development agenda in Bihar. Together, NDA hopes to balance local and national narratives in their campaign.
JD(U)’s Calculations in Seat Sharing
Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) is cautious about seat allocation this time. In 2020, JD(U) contested fewer seats than BJP but demanded to maintain its stronghold constituencies. For 2025, JD(U) is expected to insist on safeguarding its base while allowing BJP more seats.
By asking BJP to negotiate directly with smaller allies like Chirag Paswan and Jitan Ram Manjhi, Nitish is signaling his focus on BJP-JD(U) relations over others. This strategy could help JD(U) avoid confrontations that weakened it in the past.
Challenges for NDA Ahead
Despite renewed talks, NDA faces several challenges. Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) remains unpredictable. His decision in 2020 to fight separately had severely hurt JD(U). Whether he remains cooperative in 2025 is uncertain. Similarly, Upendra Kushwaha and Jitan Ram Manjhi are pushing for larger roles.
If BJP fails to balance these demands, the alliance could face internal strains. Managing allies while keeping Nitish Kumar satisfied will be critical to NDA’s success.
Opposition’s Strategy in Bihar
While NDA works on unity, the opposition is also preparing aggressively. The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has launched large rallies and is banking on Tejashwi Yadav’s youth appeal. Congress and Left parties are also coordinating with RJD to keep the Mahagathbandhan strong.
If the opposition alliance holds firm, NDA could face a tough fight in Bihar. However, disunity in the opposition camp could give BJP and JD(U) an edge.
The Stakes of Bihar Election 2025
Bihar Assembly Election 2025 is not just about state power. Its results will also impact national politics. A strong NDA performance will boost BJP’s confidence ahead of the next general election. For Nitish Kumar, success will secure his role as a central figure in Bihar’s future politics.
Failure, however, could shift Bihar’s political landscape dramatically. For this reason, both BJP and JD(U) are working to finalize their strategies early.
The meeting between Amit Shah and Nitish Kumar marks an important moment in Bihar politics. It reflects NDA’s effort to present a united front and resolve seat-sharing issues before the campaign begins.
As election season intensifies, Bihar will witness more rallies, strategies, and negotiations. NDA is focused on unity, while the opposition pushes for consolidation. The coming months promise intense political drama as Bihar gears up for a decisive contest.
One thing is certain: Bihar Assembly Election 2025 will shape not only the state’s future but also influence the national political direction.
