NDA to Unveil Bihar Seat-Sharing Formula and Candidate List Today

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Bihar is poised for a major reveal on October 12, 2025, with the seat-sharing formula and initial candidate lists set to be unveiled, signaling the ruling coalition's aggressive push ahead of the state assembly elections. Senior BJP leaders, including Home Minister Amit Shah and party president JP Nadda, convened with state unit chiefs and allies on Saturday to iron out the final details, confirming a near-complete agreement that underscores the alliance's unity.

Bihar BJP president Dilip Jaiswal announced to reporters that "everything has been decided in the NDA," emphasizing firm solidarity among partners. The announcement is slated for either the evening of October 12 or by 11 a.m. the following day, with the venue—Patna or Delhi—to be finalized by top brass. Attendees at the high-stakes meeting included Union Minister and Bihar election in-charge Dharmendra Pradhan, Bihar in-charge Vinod Tawde, and Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, who dismissed any notions of discord, stating, "Nobody has any kind of resentment. Everyone has expressed their views… all are happy."

Sources within the NDA indicate a balanced split: Janata Dal (United) [JD(U)], led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, is expected to contest 101-102 seats, with the BJP fielding candidates on one fewer. The duo together will cover 200-203 of Bihar's 243 constituencies, leaving 40-42 for smaller allies. Chirag Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) [LJP(RV)] is tipped for 26 seats, Jitan Ram Manjhi's Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) [HAM(S)] eight, and Upendra Kushwaha's Rashtriya Lok Morcha [RLM] six. This comes after productive huddles with Manjhi and Paswan, whose central parliamentary board empowered him to seal decisions.

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The BJP's Central Election Committee (CEC) meeting on October 12 at the party headquarters in Delhi, attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other heavyweights, will greenlight the candidate slate for key seats, focusing on winnability and strategic strongholds. An official release is anticipated post-meeting, turbocharging the NDA's campaign machinery for the polls scheduled in two phases on November 6 and 11, with results on November 14.

Kushwaha quashed rumors of friction, affirming ongoing talks reflect collaborative spirit. Meanwhile, HAM(S) general secretary Rajesh Pandey hinted at pragmatic flexibility, quoting, "We have all the options open. There is an old saying that no one is anyone's friend in politics, no one is anyone's enemy."

In contrast, the opposition Mahagathbandhan grapples with delays in its seat-sharing pact, prompting Congress leaders to mull a solo run. The NDA's swift alignment positions it favorably against rivals, including the RJD-led bloc and Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj Party, as Bihar's political arena heats up with nominations already underway for the first phase. This development could reshape alliances and voter dynamics in the high-stakes battle for the state.

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