Bihar Polls: NDA Seat-Sharing Talks in Final Stages, JDU and BJP Likely to Contest 100+ Seats Each

With the Bihar assembly election due in October–November, seat-sharing talks within the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) are nearing conclusion, reports said on Sunday.

According to The Indian Express, the BJP and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) are likely to contest 100–105 seats each out of the total 243.

Past performance

In the 2020 elections, JDU contested 115 seats and won 43, while BJP fought 110 and won 74. Despite the strike-rate gap, Nitish retained the top post. This time, JDU has reportedly insisted it will not contest below 100 seats.

The Chirag Paswan factor

Union minister Chirag Paswan’s LJP (Ram Vilas), which damaged JDU’s performance in 2020 by contesting 115 seats independently, is now part of the NDA. Though Chirag is demanding 40 seats, reports suggest he is unlikely to get that many.

Analysts note that while LJP won just one seat last time, its presence dented JDU’s chances on over 30 constituencies, as Chirag fielded candidates against Nitish while sparing BJP strongholds.

Smaller allies in the equation

The seat-sharing formula will also decide allocations for smaller NDA partners, including union minister and ex-CM Jitan Ram Manjhi’s HAM (Secular) and Upendra Kushwaha’s Rashtriya Lok Morcha. If Mukesh Sahani’s VIP, currently with the opposition, switches sides, the math may be altered further.

NDA’s campaign line

A senior NDA leader said there is “no question of JDU contesting fewer seats than BJP” and attributed its weaker 2020 performance to LJP’s spoiler role. He added that the campaign is focused on projecting Nitish Kumar as chief minister, though “minor adjustments” may be made to accommodate allies.

Meanwhile, the opposition Mahagathbandhan (RJD-Congress) has stepped up campaigning, with Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav launching a ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’.