NDA Seals Bihar Seat-Sharing Pact: BJP, JDU Get 101 Each
- By Thetripurapost Desk, Patna
- Oct 12, 2025
- 594
After days of suspense, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Sunday sealed its seat-sharing formula for the high-stakes Bihar Assembly elections, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal (United) set to contest 101 seats each. The Chirag Paswan-led Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) has been allotted 29, while two smaller allies — the Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) [HAM(S)] and the Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) — will field candidates in six constituencies each.
The announcement, made jointly by BJP and JDU leaders on X, puts to rest weeks of intense negotiations and speculation over the formula for the 243-member Bihar Assembly.
Nitish, BJP Scale Down from 2020
This arrangement marks a notable climbdown for Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s JDU, which had contested 115 seats in 2020, and for the BJP, which fought on 110. The redistribution reflects the NDA’s attempt to accommodate newer allies while preserving unity within the coalition.
Political observers say Nitish Kumar’s reduced share underscores his party’s weaker bargaining position after a series of political realignments in Bihar and at the Centre.
Smaller Allies Brought on Board
The deal also signals a carefully balanced act by the BJP leadership. The HAM(S), led by Union minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, had initially demanded 15 seats but settled for six and a seat in the Legislative Council after a direct outreach by senior BJP leaders.
Upendra Kushwaha’s RLM too had threatened to go solo but relented after being given six seats. The LJP(RV), which pushed for 40 seats, finally agreed to contest 29 — four more than the BJP’s initial offer.
Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan said the talks concluded in a “cordial atmosphere,” adding that “Bihar is ready, and the NDA government will return with a decisive mandate.”
Bihar Polls in Two Phases
The Election Commission has scheduled voting in two phases — on November 6 and November 11 — with counting of votes on November 14. The last date for filing nominations for the first phase is October 17.
The opposition Mahagathbandhan (INDIA bloc), led by the RJD and Congress, is yet to announce its own seat-sharing formula.
Modi to Launch Campaign on October 15
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will kick off the NDA’s Bihar campaign on October 15 with an interactive session with BJP workers under the ‘Mera Booth, Sabse Majboot’ initiative.
In a post on X, Modi wrote: “Our dedicated workers are working with full energy to ensure the victory of BJP-NDA in Bihar. Interacting with such hardworking workers always provides new inspiration.”
How the Equation Differs from 2020
In the 2020 elections, the BJP and JDU had contested 110 and 115 seats, winning 74 and 43 respectively. The HAM(S) won four out of seven seats it contested, while the then-unified LJP won just one of 135 but secured 5.66% of the statewide vote share. The RLM, contesting independently, failed to win any but garnered 1.77% votes.
Analysts believe that beyond numbers, the NDA’s focus this time is on “quality seats” — constituencies where allies have higher winnability based on caste arithmetic and local presence.
At a Glance: NDA Seat Distribution (2025 Bihar Polls)
Party Seats
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) 101
Janata Dal (United) [JDU] 101
Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) [LJP(RV)] 29
Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) 6
Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) [HAM(S)] 6
Total 243