Bihar Elections 2025: Seat-Sharing Chaos Grips NDA and Mahagathbandhan as Alliances Crumble

NDA's Cracks Widen

The NDA, which recently announced its seat-sharing formula, faces   open rebellion from key allies  . Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) chief Upendra Kushwaha has publicly declared that   "nothing is well in NDA"   . His discontent stems from the allocation of the Mahua seat to Chirag Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) instead of his own party .

Kushwaha's protest has escalated to the point where he has been summoned to Delhi for meetings with senior BJP leaders, including Home Minister Amit Shah, in an attempt to resolve the crisis . The situation grew more dramatic on Tuesday night when senior BJP leaders held closed-door meetings with Kushwaha at his Patna residence, but failed to pacify him .

The discontent doesn't stop with Kushwaha. Jitan Ram Manjhi's Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) has also expressed dissatisfaction and   announced plans to contest against Chirag Paswan's LJP   in Bodh Gaya and Makhdumpur constituencies . This comes despite HAM being allocated six seats in the official arrangement .

The Numbers Game

The NDA's seat-sharing arrangement, announced by Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, allocates:

-   BJP: 101 seats   

-   JD(U): 101 seats   

-   LJP(RV): 29 seats   

-   RLM: 6 seats   

-   HAM: 6 seats   

This represents a significant reduction for JD(U) from the 115 seats it contested in the 2020 elections, while the BJP has also reduced its quota from 110 seats previously .

Opposition Alliance Equally Strained

The opposition Mahagathbandhan is facing its own   seat-sharing stalemate  . Negotiations between the RJD and Congress have reached an impasse, with Congress   demanding 65 seats   while the RJD is   unwilling to offer more than 58   .

The tension has even taken a poetic turn, with RJD's Manoj Jha and Congress MP Imran Pratapgarhi exchanging cryptic shayaris on social media that hint at the growing unease between the allies . One translation read: "Don't snap the thread of love, Rahim says — once broken, it may be tied again, but the knot will always remain" .

Amid the deadlock, the RJD has already issued party symbols to 71 candidates, while various Left parties have also begun announcing their candidates, indicating that the alliance is proceeding without a formal agreement .

Campaign Trail and Other Developments

Despite the alliance troubles, political activities are accelerating:

- JD(U) has released its   first list of 57 candidates  , including 4 women 

- Chief Minister   Nitish Kumar will begin his campaign   from Samastipur district on October 16 

- RJD leader   Tejashwi Yadav will file his nomination   from Raghopur constituency today 

- Poll strategist   Prashant Kishor has decided not to contest   the elections, though his Jan Suraaj Party will field candidates 

With the first phase of voting scheduled for November 6 and the second on November 11, both alliances have little time to resolve their internal conflicts. The counting of votes will take place on November 14 , determining whether the current political turmoil will translate into electoral consequences.