NDA’s electoral equation in Bihar, suspense on seat sharing between BJP-JDU, waiting for Chirag and Manjhi

News India Live, Digital Desk: As Bihar Assembly elections 2025 are coming closer, political activities are intensifying in the state. There is a lot of speculation these days regarding seat sharing in the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA). While all the constituent parties are busy making strategies to win the elections, the coordination of seats between big parties like BJP and JDU has not been finalized yet. In such a situation, allies like Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) and Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Hindustani Awam Morcha (Hum) are also eyeing the seat sharing formula.

What is the complicated mathematics of seat distribution in NDA?

Bihar NDA mainly consists of five parties: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Janata Dal United (JDU), Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) (Chirag Paswan faction), Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) (Jitan Ram Manjhi faction), and Rashtriya Lok Morcha (Upendra Kushwaha faction). NDA had performed brilliantly in Bihar in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, and now efforts are being made to maintain the same winning streak in the assembly elections also. But this task does not seem that easy.

• BJP and JDU: If sources are to be believed, there was an agreement between BJP and JDU to contest on equal number of seats, in which both the parties could field their candidates on approximately 101-101 seats. However, after JDU released its first list of 57 candidates, there is a possibility of some change in it. Some analysts also believe that considering the current political situation, BJP would now like to remain in the role of ‘elder brother’.
• Chirag Paswan (LJPR): Chirag Paswan had performed brilliantly in the Lok Sabha elections and his party was offered 29 seats. But there are some seats on which JDU has also fielded its candidates, due to which the tension between them has increased.
• Jitan Ram Manjhi (us): Former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi’s party ‘Hum’ is expected to get 6 seats. Their demand was that they should be given a chance on their traditional seats.
• Upendra Kushwaha (RLM): Upendra Kushwaha of Rashtriya Lok Morcha is also expected to get 6 seats. They also want to strengthen their hold on certain seats.

Challenges and Expectations (Bihar Assembly Election 2025 Outlook):

This exercise of ‘Bihar NDA seat sharing’ also becomes complicated because every party is demanding maximum seats as per its existing seats and political stature. It is clear from JDU releasing its list first that they are not ready to make any kind of compromise on their base and seats. This has increased pressure on Chirag Paswan and other small allies. There have been continuous reports of ‘discord in the NDA alliance’.

Now all eyes are on the statements of the central leadership of BJP and other constituent parties as to what final decision they take regarding this ‘seat sharing’. Assembly elections 2025 in Bihar will decide whether this united face of NDA will be able to woo the voters again or it will have to bear the brunt of mutual infighting. ‘Bihar election preparations’ are at their peak.