Patna: With the Bihar Assembly elections drawing closer, the state’s political climate is heating up. Union Home Minister Amit Shah is set to visit Bihar for three days — from October 16 to 18 — a development that has triggered speculation about the internal state of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). The visit was officially announced by Bihar BJP President Dilip Jaiswal on October 13.
Tensions have reportedly surfaced within the NDA after the recent seat-sharing announcement. Upendra Kushwaha, leader of the Rashtriya Lok Morcha, is said to be dissatisfied with the six seats allotted to his party, having demanded more. Adding to the uncertainty, a planned NDA joint press conference in Patna on Monday was abruptly postponed, fuelling further debate over whether all is well within the alliance.
However, Jaiswal dismissed any talk of discord, asserting that the NDA remains united and strong. “In the current environment, the NDA is entering the electoral fray with rock-solid unity. This is why there is disruption in the Grand Alliance — their key leaders and MLAs are joining the BJP today,” he said during a press briefing at the BJP state office in Patna.
Jaiswal outlined a detailed plan for candidate nominations, saying that the NDA has mapped out a four-day schedule from October 15 to 18. “We have decided that NDA candidates will file nominations across Bihar over these four days. Different districts have been assigned to different leaders, and senior NDA figures, including more than a dozen Chief Ministers and Union Ministers, will attend the initial nominations,” he added.
As the NDA moves ahead with its campaign blueprint, Shah’s visit is expected to play a pivotal role in rallying cadres, managing dissent, and projecting unity — all crucial as the alliance prepares for a fiercely contested election in Bihar.
