Bihar poll dates out but coalition partners yet to finalise seat sharing

Even arsenic the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the docket for the Bihar Assembly election, the 2 coalitions — the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and Opposition’s expansive confederation — are yet to finalise the seat-sharing arrangement. Each broadside is struggling to onslaught a equilibrium betwixt aspirations and winnability.

Bihar Assembly predetermination schedule: Follow highlights, large announcements connected October 6, 2025

The creation of each bloc has changed since the 2020 predetermination and determination are further claimants for the 243 seats successful the Bihar Assembly.

According to sources, successful the NDA, the Janata Dal (United) could contention connected 107 seats and the BJP connected 105. Leaving 31 seats to beryllium divided betwixt Union Minister Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), Union Minister Jitan Ram Majhi’s Hindustan Awam Morcha (HAM) and Rajya Sabha MP Upendra Kushwaha’s Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP).

The JD(U) has near it to the BJP to equilibrium the equation. “JD(U) is the preeminent spouse successful the confederation and should beryllium fixed the largest stock of seats. As acold arsenic LJP (RV), HAM and RLSP are concerned, they person been BJP’s allies and it is for the BJP to negociate the woody with them,” JD(U)’s nationalist spokesperson K.C. Tyagi said.

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In 2020, JD(U) had contested connected 115 seats, BJP connected 110 and Mr. Majhi’s HAM connected seven. The agreed Lok Janshakti Party contested autarkic of the 2 blocs connected 134 seats. Mr. Paswan’s determination to contention unsocial contributed to divided successful the enactment with his uncle Pashupati Nath Paras walking distant with 5 of its six Lok Sabha MPs.

This election, Mr. Paswan’s LJP (RV) is backmost with the NDA, making spot part tricky. “It is not astir the fig of seats but astir the prime of seats. We bash not privation to beryllium saddled with seats that nary 1 other is consenting to contention from successful the NDA,” a apical LJP person said.

It is not casual for the Opposition either. The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) began ceremonial discussions connected Sunday evening with its allies to travel up with a spot part formula.

As per sources RJD has offered 12 seats to Mukesh Sahani’s Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP). Emerging retired of the gathering connected Sunday evening, Mr. Sahani told reporters that the expansive confederation volition signifier the authorities and helium volition beryllium the Deputy Chief Minister.

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The CPI has been offered six seats and CPI(M) 4 seats. Their tally remains unchanged from 2020 polls.

The CPI, it is learnt, is not blessed with the offer. To negociate further, enactment wide caput D. Raja is reaching Patna connected Tuesday (October 7, 2025). “There is fashionable enactment for the Mahagathbandhan. The spot part is simply a tricky issue, and communal spot should beryllium the ground for immoderate decision. RJD and the Congress should beryllium much accommodative,” Mr. Raja said.

No ceremonial connection has been made to either CPI(ML), which has demanded 40 seats, oregon the Congress. The RJD which fought connected 144 seats does not privation to ascent down beneath 130, leaving 113 seats to beryllium divided betwixt 5 allies, including the Congress.