Patna: The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has finalised its seat-sharing arrangement for the upcoming elections to eight Bihar Legislative Council seats and one by-election seat, following consultations between the top leadership of the BJP and the JD(U).
Under the agreed formula, the BJP will contest five of the eight seats while the JD(U) will field candidates in the remaining three. The alliance will also jointly contest the by-election to a vacant Legislative Council seat.
JD(U) Secures Vacant Council Seat
The by-election seat, which became vacant after Chief Minister Nitish Kumar moved to the Rajya Sabha, has been allocated to the JD(U).
The seat carries a term extending until 2030, providing the party with an additional opportunity for representation in the Upper House of the Bihar Legislature.
Sources indicated that although the JD(U) initially sought four of the eight seats, it later agreed to three after discussions within the alliance. The allocation of the by-election seat is seen as balancing the overall distribution.
BJP May Accommodate Smaller Allies
According to alliance sources, the BJP is expected to share part of its quota with smaller NDA partners.
The party is considering allocating one seat each to the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) and the Rashtriya Lok Morcha from its five-seat share.
The move is aimed at ensuring broader representation within the alliance ahead of key political contests in the state.
LJP (Ram Vilas) Stakes Strong Claim
The Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) has emerged as a strong contender for a Legislative Council seat.
Party leaders have argued that its strength of 19 MLAs in the Bihar Assembly justifies representation in the Council. NDA leaders are understood to have acknowledged the significance of the party’s numerical strength while considering the allocation.
Rashtriya Lok Morcha Also in Contention
The BJP is also reported to be favourably considering the claim of the Rashtriya Lok Morcha.
Political observers point to a previous assurance made by former BJP state president Dilip Jaiswal during the Assembly election period regarding Council representation for the party.
The presence of Deepak Prakash, son of Upendra Kushwaha, in the state government is also being viewed as a factor strengthening the party’s position within the alliance.
HAM May Have to Wait
The Hindustani Awam Morcha has also been seeking a seat in the Legislative Council.
However, alliance sources suggest that the current seat-sharing arithmetic leaves little room for additional adjustments. With the BJP unwilling to reduce its own tally further, HAM may have to wait for future vacancies or elections.
Focus Shifts to Candidate Selection
The finalised formula reflects an effort by the NDA leadership to balance the interests of its major and smaller constituents while maintaining alliance cohesion.
With the seat-sharing arrangement largely settled, attention is now expected to shift to the selection of candidates who will contest under the agreed formula in the upcoming Legislative Council elections.
