The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Bihar has officially finalised its seat-sharing arrangement for the assembly elections. On Sunday, both the Janata Dal (United) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) confirmed they would jointly contest 101 seats each in the 243-member assembly. This pivotal decision reshapes the political landscape in Bihar, where both parties aim to retain control amidst competition from other regional forces.
In addition to the main electoral components, the NDA allocated the remaining 41 seats to smaller allies. The Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), spearheaded by Union Minister Chirag Paswan, secured 29 constituencies. Meanwhile, Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM), led by Jitan Ram Manjhi, will contest six seats, matching the Rashtriya Lok Morcha led by Upendra Kushwaha.
This seat-sharing marks a significant shift in the dynamics between BJP and JD(U). Historically, since 2005, the JD(U) has typically contested more seats than its BJP counterpart. This year, the arrangement underscores the BJP’s increasing influence and the relative decline of JD(U)’s standing in Bihar politics.
Dharmendra Pradhan, the BJP’s Bihar poll in-charge, stated that all alliances reached this decision in a “cordial manner.” He expressed confidence that “Bihar is ready for another NDA government.” The sentiment regarding the amicable discussions was echoed by Chirag Paswan, Upendra Kushwaha, and JD(U) leader Sanjay Kumar Jha, who collectively described the negotiations as “amicable and unanimous.”
Notably, despite reports of discontent prior to this announcement, Jitan Ram Manjhi expressed satisfaction with his party’s allocation. He reaffirmed his loyalty, stating, “I will stay with Prime Minister Narendra Modi till my last breath.” This indicates a commitment from the allies as they enter a crucial electoral contest.
The upcoming assembly elections are significant, especially given the high stakes involved. In the last assembly elections held in 2020, JD(U) contested 115 seats while the BJP contested 110 seats, with the JD(U) only managing to win 43 seats compared to the BJP’s 74 seats. These results strained their alliance and momentarily pushed Nitish Kumar away from the NDA coalition.
The Bihar Assembly elections are set to take place in two phases on November 6 and 11, 2023, with counting scheduled for November 14. As the parties gear up for this significant electoral battle, the dynamics established by this seat-sharing arrangement will undoubtedly influence the strategies moving forward.