NDA Finalises Bihar Seat-Sharing Deal: JD(U) and BJP to Contest 101 Seats Each, Chirag Paswan’s LJP-RV Gets 29

Patna, Oct 2025 : The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Sunday formally announced its seat-sharing arrangement for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, ending weeks of speculation and behind-the-scenes negotiations among the alliance partners. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will contest 101 seats each, while the remaining 41 seats have been distributed among the smaller allies.

The announcement was made by Bihar BJP’s election in-charge Vinod Tawde, who shared the details on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). He posted, “An organised and dedicated NDA… For the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, all members of the NDA family have completed the seat-sharing agreement in a cordial atmosphere.”

According to the final arrangement, Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) has been allocated 29 seats, while Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) and Upendra Kushwaha’s Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) will contest six seats each.

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, the BJP’s Bihar in-charge, reiterated the details in his statement, saying the formula was reached “after extensive and positive discussions among NDA partners in both Delhi and Patna.” He wrote on X:
“We, the NDA allies, have completed the seat-sharing in a cordial atmosphere. JD(U) – 101, BJP – 101, LJP-Ram Vilas – 29, Rashtriya Lok Morcha – 6, Hindustani Awam Morcha – 6. Bihar is ready… once again NDA government.”

The declaration was made jointly by top NDA leaders, including Vinod Tawde, JD(U) Working President Sanjay Jha, RLM Chief Upendra Kushwaha, Union Minister Chirag Paswan, and Bihar BJP President Dilip Jaiswal. The joint message on social media underscored the alliance’s unity, with leaders calling it a “consensus-based and forward-looking” seat-sharing arrangement.

Following the announcement, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressed confidence that the NDA would once again form the government in Bihar, citing the “strong unity” and “clear coordination” among all partners. Party insiders described the 50-50 seat split between JD(U) and BJP as a reaffirmation of trust between the two long-time allies, despite recent tensions.

Chirag Paswan, who emerged as one of the biggest beneficiaries in the arrangement, said that his party’s allocation of 29 seats was “a recognition of people’s faith and the LJP-RV’s growing strength.” His party had recorded a perfect strike rate in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, winning all five seats it contested. “We will contest with full strength to ensure NDA’s return to power,” Paswan said, adding that the alliance is “stronger than ever.”

Jitan Ram Manjhi, leader of HAM, also welcomed the announcement, expressing satisfaction with the six seats allotted to his party. “During the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, our party was given one seat, and we were happy. Now, we have six, and we are happy with this as well,” he said, terming the deal “fair and inclusive.”

Upendra Kushwaha’s RLM, which too received six seats, termed the allocation “balanced and satisfactory,” indicating that all partners were keen to project unity ahead of the polls.

Political observers note that the seat-sharing deal was the product of delicate negotiations over the past few weeks. Sources revealed that both JD(U) and BJP leaders held multiple rounds of talks in Delhi to fine-tune the distribution and accommodate the allies’ demands without upsetting the balance of power.

The equal distribution of seats between JD(U) and BJP is being seen as a strategic move to maintain harmony within the alliance and prevent internal rifts. The NDA now looks set for a high-voltage electoral battle, seeking to extend its rule in Bihar under Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s leadership.

With the seat-sharing formula finalised, the focus now shifts to candidate selection and campaign planning. All alliance partners are expected to begin joint rallies and constituency-level coordination meetings in the coming week.

The announcement has sent a clear message — despite political speculation and recent strains, the NDA remains united and ready for the Bihar polls, aiming for another term in power.