Bihar Polls 2025: NDA Allies Eye More Seats, BJP To Design Seat Sharing Formula

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is interpreting recent statements from its Bihar allies in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) as a sign of tough negotiations ahead. Chirag Paswan of the Lok Janshakti Party-Ram Vilas (LJP-Ram Vilas) and Upendra Kushwaha of the Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) are gearing up for a hard bargain over seat sharing for the upcoming Assembly election in Bihar.

Chirag Paswan has hinted at his willingness to contest in the Assembly elections, potentially increasing his influence if the NDA secures victory. His brother-in-law, Arun Bharti, a Lok Sabha MP, suggested that Paswan should contest from a General Category seat rather than one reserved for Scheduled Castes. This move aims to enhance Paswan's appeal across different castes in Bihar's complex electoral landscape.

Seat Sharing Demands

Paswan has communicated to his supporters that he desires a "samman janak" or respectable number of seats from the NDA's share. With five Lok Sabha MPs under his belt, he believes he deserves six Assembly seats per MP, totalling 30 seats. However, BJP insiders suggest that he might be offered between 22 to 25 seats instead.

Meanwhile, Upendra Kushwaha is also seeking more seats for his party. Previously aligned with Rashtriya Lok Samata Party and later merging with Janata Dal-United (JD-U), Kushwaha now leads RLM after separating from JD(U). Despite not winning any seats in the 2020 Assembly election, his party showed significant presence in several constituencies.

Internal Tensions

At a public meeting last week, Kushwaha hinted at internal sabotage within the NDA during his unsuccessful Lok Sabha campaign from Karakat. He warned that such actions could backfire on those responsible. Although he didn't name anyone directly, it was clear that Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary was implied due to their strained relationship.

The RLM leader's concerns stem from competition among non-Yadav OBCs like Kurmi-Koeri-Kushwaha voters within the alliance. An RLM official explained that these groups are vying for influence within the same coalition, highlighting Kushwaha's apprehensions and animosity towards Choudhary.

NDA Unity Challenges

During an earlier NDA meeting led by BJP national president J.P. Nadda, Kushwaha emphasised unity within the alliance against the Mahagathbandhan 'grand alliance'. This opposition includes Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Congress, and Communist Party of India-Marxist-Leninist (CPI-ML). Despite this call for unity, Nadda's allies appear poised for challenging seat-sharing discussions.