Patna: With the Bihar Assembly elections officially announced, attention has shifted to the intricate negotiations over seat-sharing between the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Grand Alliance. Meetings are ongoing, but tensions are already emerging.
Jitan Ram Manjhi, leader of the Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM), has clarified his party’s position. “We have no dispute over seats. We are demanding recognised seats, meaning our party should be officially recognised in the Bihar Assembly,” he said. “Adequate seats are needed for this. We do not seek the Chief Minister or Deputy Chief Minister posts; our main demand is party recognition.”
“हो न्याय अगर तो आधा दो,
यदि उसमें भी कोई बाधा हो,
तो दे दो केवल 15 ग्राम,
रखो अपनी धरती तमाम,
HAM वही ख़ुशी से खाएंगें,
परिजन पे असी ना उठाएँगे”— Jitan Ram Manjhi (@jitanrmanjhi) October 8, 2025
Meanwhile, the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) leader Chirag Paswan has remained silent on the issue. Sources suggest the BJP is willing to offer 20-plus seats to his party, while Paswan is holding out for 35. The talks also involve demands for a major ministry and representation in the upper house of the central or state legislature.
Paswan has reportedly requested two seats each in Vaishali, Hajipur, Samastipur, Khagaria, and Jamui, all constituencies where the party currently holds Lok Sabha MPs. There is also a reported tussle over the Govindganj seat, coveted by LJP(R) state president Raju Tiwari, who currently holds a BJP MLA.
Senior BJP figures, including Dharmendra Pradhan, Vinod Tawde, and Mangal Pandey, have reportedly met Paswan in an effort to resolve the standoff. The party’s final decision is expected to follow guidance from the central government.
Late on Wednesday night, Left leaders also met with Tejashwi Yadav, while a Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting has been convened in Delhi today, indicating that discussions over alliances and strategy are accelerating as the state gears up for elections.
