Patna: The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Bihar may face significant internal coordination challenges in the run-up to the elections, as key smaller allies have openly expressed sharp dissatisfaction with the recently finalized seat-sharing formula.
The arrangement, announced late Sunday, allocates 101 seats each to the major partners, the BJP and JD(U). However, the parties led by Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi (HAM(S)) and Rajya Sabha MP Upendra Kushwaha (Rashtriya Lok Morcha) were each allotted a notably smaller share of six seats. Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) was given 29 seats.
Kushwaha’s Apology to Upset Workers
प्रिय मित्रों/साथियों,
आप सभी से क्षमा चाहता हूं। आपके मन के अनुकूल सीटों की संख्या नहीं हो पायी। मैं समझ रहा हूं, इस निर्णय से अपनी पार्टी के उम्मीदवार होने की इच्छा रखने वाले साथियों सहित हजारों – लाखों लोगों का मन दुखी होगा। आज कई घरों में खाना नहीं बना होगा। परन्तु आप सभी…
— Upendra Kushwaha (@UpendraKushRLM) October 12, 2025
Late Sunday night, RLM chief Upendra Kushwaha posted a heartfelt message on social media platform X, offering an apology to his party workers and supporters for the outcome.
“I apologize to all of you. The number of seats was not as per your wishes,” Kushwaha wrote. “I understand this decision will upset thousands and millions of people, including my colleagues who wished to be my party’s candidates.”
Acknowledging the disappointment, he referenced the internal pressures that dictated the low seat count. “Behind any decision, there are circumstances that are visible from the outside, but there are also those that are not… We know that due to ignorance of the internal circumstances, you may feel anger towards me, which is natural.” He humbly requested his workers to let their anger subside, trusting that “Time will tell” if the decision was right or wrong.
आज बादलों ने फिर साजिश की,
जहां मेरा घर था वहीं बारिश की ।
अगर फलक को जिद है बिजलियां गिराने की,
तो हमें भी जिद है वहीं पर आशियां बसाने की ।।— Upendra Kushwaha (@UpendraKushRLM) October 13, 2025
Manjhi Issues Stark Warning
VIDEO | Union Minister and HAM President Jitan Ram Manjhi (@jitanrmanjhi) expresses his discontent as his party gets 6 seats under seat-sharing arrangement in NDA.
He says, “What the high command decided, we accept, but by giving six seats, they have undervalued us, it may have… pic.twitter.com/Bj0MIZgv1d
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 12, 2025
Meanwhile, HAM(S) chief and Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi delivered a more direct and “shocking statement” regarding the allocation. While accepting the high command’s decision, he cautioned that his party’s strength had been grossly underestimated by the alliance.
“Our strength in the NDA has been underestimated, and the NDA will have to bear the consequences,” Manjhi stated. He emphasized that the allocation of only six seats fails to recognize his party’s true importance within the coalition. He added, however, that he accepts the final decision, drawing a parallel to his party receiving only one parliamentary seat in the past.
