Patna: The National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) crucial seat-sharing talks in Bihar have reached a complex deadlock, forcing a dramatic shift in strategy for the coalition’s two primary pillars, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Janata Dal (United) [JD (U)]. Unable to resolve the ambitious demands of smaller allies, the BJP and JDU have temporarily postponed their bilateral negotiations to first address the grievances of Chirag Paswan (LJP-Ram Vilas), Jitan Ram Manjhi (HAM- Secular), and Upendra Kushwaha (RLM).
Sources within the alliance indicate that JD (U), led by Nitish Kumar, has tasked the BJP with the challenging job of persuading the three allies, who are collectively demanding a staggering 75 assembly seats. The new plan involves finalizing the allocation for the smaller parties first, and only then dividing the remaining seats between the BJP and JD (U).
Allies Remain Adamant on 70 Seats
The core of the crisis lies in the high demands from the three leaders, who have shown no willingness to budge despite ongoing negotiations led by senior BJP leaders, including Dharmendra Pradhan, Vinod Tawde, and Nityanand Rai.
Allies Remain Adamant on 70 Seats
The core of the crisis lies in the high demands from the three leaders, who have shown no willingness to budge despite ongoing negotiations led by senior BJP leaders, including Dharmendra Pradhan, Vinod Tawde, and Nityanand Rai.
| Ally | Party | Seat Demand |
|---|---|---|
| Chirag Paswan | LJP (Ram Vilas) | 35 seats |
| Upendra Kushwaha | Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) | 20 seats |
| Jitan Ram Manjhi | Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) | 15 seats |
| TOTAL | 70 seats |
If all 75 demands were met, it would leave only 173 seats for the BJP and JD (U) to divide in the 243-member assembly, far below their internal target of contesting 101 to 103 seats each. Insiders suggest the BJP-JD (U) is aiming to convince the three allies to settle for a combined total of 38-40 seats.
JD (U) Plays Hardball, Pushing Responsibility onto BJP
The JD (U) is reportedly insistent that the BJP resolve the alliance issues before commencing its own seat division. “The JD (U) has asked the BJP to first resolve the issues with the allies, and then they will share the seats,” a source confirmed. The underlying agreement remains that the JD (U) intends to contest at least one seat more than the BJP to maintain its position as the senior partner.
The aggressive stance by Chirag Paswan, who saw a late-night meeting with Nityanand Rai conclude without a confirmed deal on Thursday, is central to the tension. While Rai maintained that Paswan was “not angry,” the LJP-RV spokesperson in Patna issued a public statement reiterating their demand for a specific seat-sharing formula.
Meanwhile, political activity outside the NDA continues to ramp up, with RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav making a major election promise to pass a law guaranteeing a government job to every family within 20 months. Separately, Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party announced its first list of 51 candidates, injecting another variable into the upcoming elections.
A final decision on the NDA’s seat-sharing is expected within the next two to three days, as the Bihar BJP leadership has already forwarded a panel of candidates for 115 seats to Delhi for central clearance on October 11 and 12.
