Introduction
The political landscape in Bihar is shifting ahead of the 2025 Assembly elections as the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) reveals an equal seats split between its two main partners, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Janata Dal (United) or JDU. The development follows the entry of Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) or LJP(RV), which is recalibrating the NDA’s electoral math and potentially altering the traditional power dynamics in the state.
H2: What the new NDA seat-sharing means for Bihar
The joint post from JDU’s national working president Sanjay Kumar Jha announced an equal distribution of seats between BJP and JDU in the 243-seat Bihar Assembly. This marks a notable shift from the 2020 arrangement when the JDU fielded 115 seats and BJP contested 110, with smaller NDA partners and allies also playing a role. The current formula reflects how the entry of LJP(RV) and the shifting loyalties of other smaller allies are influencing the allocation, signaling a broader effort to present a united, broad-based front ahead of the election.
H3: How LJP(RV) changes the equation
Chirag Paswan’s party, which was once in a complicated relationship with both the JDU and BJP, enters the 2025 race as part of a broader realignment. In 2020, the LJP (then undivided) contested a large share of seats and pledged loyalty to the BJP while maintaining friction with the JDU. Now, with LJP(RV) aligned with the NDA, the BJP and JDU effectively share the same number of seats, potentially consolidating votes across caste and regional lines that Chirag Paswan’s leadership could help mobilize.
H2: The role of other NDA members and past lineups
Historically, Bihar’s NDA configuration has included smaller parties like HAM(S) led by former CM Jitan Ram Manjhi and others. In 2020, HAM(S) won seven seats while VIP (then part of NDA) contested 11. The evolving arithmetic shows a move away from a single-party dominance toward a more balanced multi-member approach, with a focus on stability and broad appeal under Nitish Kumar’s leadership. The 2024 Lok Sabha results also feed into this calculation, reinforcing the need for a robust, united NDA slate in the much-anticipated assembly polls.
H2: What this means for Nitish Kumar and the opposition
For Nitish Kumar, the new seat-sharing formula presents both opportunities and challenges. On one hand, equal representation for BJP and JDU could reinforce political stability within the NDA and enhance the coalition’s ability to field credible candidates across districts. On the other hand, the realignment may require more careful management of regional and community expectations to ensure that both parties mobilize strong local campaigns. The opposition INDIA bloc, led by the RJD and Congress, has yet to publicly declare its seat-sharing arrangement, which will be crucial to how Bihar’s electoral contest unfolds in two phases, with voting slated for November 6 and 11 and results on November 14.
H3: What to watch in the coming weeks
– Final seat-by-seat allocation: While the NDA has signaled an equal split between BJP and JDU, the exact seat-by-seat choices for each party will shape campaign strategies, including candidate selection in key constituencies.
– Campaign dynamics: Chirag Paswan’s LJP(RV) presence is expected to energize specific voter blocs and could alter traditional regional late-stage lobbying efforts by the rival parties.
– Opposition strategy: The INDIA bloc’s response and any seat-sharing details will influence the competitive balance and messaging ahead of the two-phase election.
Conclusion
As Bihar inches toward the 2025 assembly polls, the NDA’s equal seat-sharing plan between BJP and JDU, coupled with the entry of LJP(RV), signifies a strategic recalibration aimed at sustaining Nitish Kumar’s leadership while presenting a coherent, three-way alliance against a growing opposition challenge. The coming weeks will reveal how this formula translates into ground campaigns and eventually, votes across the state.
