Patna/New Delhi: The seat-sharing impasse within Bihar’s ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) appears to have reached a breakthrough, with Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief and Union Minister Chirag Paswan signalling his agreement after three days of closed-door deliberations with senior BJP leaders in Delhi.
Chirag, emerging from a half-hour meeting with Union Minister Nityanand Rai on Friday, told reporters that talks were in the final stages and that “everything is being clarified in advance.”
“Where my Prime Minister Narendra Modi is, I don’t need to worry about my honour,” Chirag said, smiling, as he and Rai posed together after the meeting — a gesture seen by many as a sign that the seat-sharing dispute has finally been resolved.
Rai, who serves as a key BJP strategist in Bihar, echoed Chirag’s sentiment, saying the discussions had gone “smoothly” and that “everything will be finalised soon.”
#WATCH | Delhi | On seat-sharing talks for Bihar elections with BJP, LJP(R) President Chirag Paswan says, ” The talks are going in a positive manner and are in their end stage now. We want to hold discussions on all minute issues, seats, candidates, and campaigning…” https://t.co/2c8wy3pHpr pic.twitter.com/Zyxwer7U4k
— ANI (@ANI) October 10, 2025
Three days of back-channel diplomacy
The truce follows a string of high-level meetings in Delhi that began earlier this week. Over the past three days, Chirag Paswan met repeatedly with Dharmendra Pradhan, the BJP’s Bihar election in-charge, and Vinod Tawde, the party’s co-in-charge, as negotiations dragged on over the number and “quality” of seats allotted to the LJP (Ram Vilas).
According to sources, Chirag initially insisted on 30 seats, while the BJP had offered 22 to 25, citing the need to balance allocations with smaller allies such as Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) and Upendra Kushwaha’s Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM).
The meetings, held at Chirag’s Delhi residence and the BJP headquarters, were marked by what insiders described as “tough but cordial” exchanges. Chirag’s insistence on “respectable representation” for his party led to prolonged discussions, but his Friday statement has been interpreted as a signal of compromise.
#WATCH | Delhi: Union Minister and BJP’s Bihar election in-charge Dharmendra Pradhan, MoS Home and BJP leader Nityanand Rai leave from the residence of Union Minister and LJP(RV) President Chirag Paswan pic.twitter.com/3Bz59ZSRwk
— ANI (@ANI) October 9, 2025
A turning point for the NDA campaign
The resolution comes as the NDA faces mounting pressure to project unity ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections, to be held in two phases on November 6 and 11. The coalition’s campaign is expected to officially begin next week, with Prime Minister Modi and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar jointly addressing rallies across the state.
Political observers say Chirag’s rapprochement with the BJP was inevitable given his strong personal rapport with Modi and the LJP’s dependence on the national party for both visibility and resources.
An NDA coordination meeting, chaired by Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, is scheduled at his Patna residence, where the final seat-sharing formula is expected to be approved before the official announcement.
“Chirag has played his cards smartly,” said a senior political analyst in Patna. “He’s managed to keep himself relevant, assert his importance within the NDA, and yet align himself firmly with the Prime Minister — a balancing act reminiscent of his father, the late Ram Vilas Paswan.”
With the NDA seat-sharing deal now virtually sealed, attention is likely to shift to candidate selection and campaign coordination, as Bihar heads into what many expect to be one of the most closely fought elections in recent years.
