New Delhi/Patna: The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is in the final stages of cementing its seat-sharing arrangement for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, following a crucial meeting on Saturday attended by senior BJP leaders, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah and party President J.P. Nadda.
BJP state unit chief Dilip Jaiswal indicated that the seat-sharing formula with all NDA allies is set to be announced on Sunday or Monday, signaling the culmination of weeks of tense negotiations. The urgency is further underscored by the fact that the BJP’s Central Election Committee (CEC), attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior leaders, is scheduled to meet today to finalize the names of the party’s candidates.
JD(U) and BJP Shares Locked In
According to sources within the NDA, the formula for the two major partners is largely agreed upon. The Janata Dal (United) [JD(U)] is likely to contest around 101 or 102 seats, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) contesting one seat fewer than the JD(U), maintaining a symbolic balance of power between the two parties.
Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary, who attended the BJP core group meeting, maintained a unified front, stating that discussions with all allies were underway and that “No one has any resentment. Everyone is happy.”
Small Allies Keep Options Open
While the LJP (Ram Vilas) and its chief Chirag Paswan were reported to have almost finalized their share, the final negotiations are centered on the remaining two regional allies: Hindustan Awam Morcha (Secular) chief and Union minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, and Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) chief Upendra Kushwaha.
Manjhi, after meeting with senior BJP leadership at Nadda’s residence, struck a cautious and pragmatic tone. HAM(S) National General Secretary Rajesh Pandey told reporters, “We have expressed our views… We have all options open. There’s an old saying that in politics, no one is anyone’s friend, no one is anyone’s enemy,” suggesting that Manjhi’s party is pressing hard for its demands.
Meanwhile, the LJP (Ram Vilas) Central Parliamentary Board held its own meeting and unanimously authorized party chief Chirag Paswan to take the final call on all decisions, granting him full mandate to conclude the negotiations with the BJP high command. The forthcoming announcement is expected to kickstart the full-scale election campaigning across the state.
