The political atmosphere in Bihar is intensifying as the state prepares for the upcoming assembly elections. Discussions concerning seat distribution within the NDA are underway, expected to commence during Navratri. Smaller parties within the alliance are persistently seeking a greater share of the seats, leading to public statements and demands. The goal is to establish consensus and achieve a balanced agreement among all constituent parties.
Official seat allocation is scheduled to be announced following the Election Commission’s release of the Bihar assembly election timetable. JD(U) leader KC Tyagi confirmed that seat-sharing talks are actively taking place within the NDA during Navratri, and an announcement regarding the allocation is anticipated soon.
Leaders from the smaller NDA allies, including Chirag Paswan, Jitan Ram Manjhi, and Upendra Kushwaha, are aiming for a significant number of seats from the total 243 in Bihar. These leaders have been publicly expressing their aspirations. The smaller parties are pushing for a greater number of seats, fearing that any further delay, as well as the approaching elections, could compel them to accept fewer seats from the larger allies due to time constraints. Consequently, these parties are using public statements to bolster their demands.
The decision to conduct discussions during Navratri is intended to mitigate concerns among the smaller allies regarding seat allocation. However, the larger allies, BJP and JD(U), believe that earlier finalization of seat distribution could lead to internal disputes among the constituent parties regarding seat shares and increase the likelihood of candidates changing their affiliations at the last moment. Therefore, delaying the seat allocation until closer to the elections is a strategy to diminish these risks.
Sources indicate that the final seat-sharing agreement among the NDA allies is likely to be finalized by the end of September or the beginning of October. In response to the demands for more seats from LJP, HAM, and RLM, JD(U) leader KC Tyagi stated that smaller parties often issue such statements to motivate their workers and increase their participation. He emphasized that all parties are required to make such statements to satisfy their workers and strengthen their position within the alliance. He expressed optimism that these parties would be appropriately integrated into the NDA.
It is expected that the seat distribution within the NDA will be based on the outcomes of the previous assembly elections. The official announcement is expected to be made after the formal notification for the Bihar assembly elections, with adjustments needed to accommodate Chirag Paswan.
The BJP and JD(U) have agreed to contest elections on more than 100 seats each. This time, the NDA comprises five parties. After the BJP and JD(U) have each allocated approximately a hundred seats, the remaining three parties will be allocated the remaining approximately forty seats.