The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) unveiled its seat-sharing blueprint for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, striking a delicate balance among its partners. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)) will each contest 101 of the 243 seats, while Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) (LJP(RV)) secured 29 constituencies after intense bargaining. Smaller allies, Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) (HAM(S)) and Upendra Kushwaha’s Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM), were allocated six seats each, with HAM(S) also gaining one MLC berth.

JD(U) national working president Sanjay Kumar Jha announced on X, “We NDA colleagues have completed the distribution of seats in a cordial atmosphere,” signaling unity despite weeks of fractious negotiations. With Bihar’s two-phase polls set for November 6 and 11 and vote counting on November 14, the NDA aims to fortify its 2020 majority against a fragmented opposition.

The agreement, finalized after marathon meetings involving Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP president JP Nadda, and Bihar’s core committee, reflects concessions from all sides. In 2020, JD(U) contested 115 seats, winning 43 with a 15.39% vote share, while BJP fought 110, securing 74 with 19.46%. Both heavyweights trimmed their quotas to accommodate allies, particularly LJP(RV), which had demanded 40 seats but settled for 29—four more than the BJP’s initial offer—focusing on Dalit-dominated constituencies like Hajipur, Samastipur, and Vaishali.

HAM(S), led by Union Minister Manjhi, relented from its 15-seat ask after Shah’s assurances, with Manjhi reaffirming loyalty to PM Narendra Modi on X: “Will stay with Prime Minister Modi till my last breath.” RLM, which ran solo on 99 seats in 2020 (0 wins, 1.77% share), also backed down from threats to go independent, securing key Kushwaha-strongholds. The deal, prioritizing “quality seats” with strong caste-based winnability, was sealed hours before the BJP’s Central Election Committee, chaired by PM Modi, met to finalize candidates.

The seat-sharing saga unfolded against a backdrop of high-stakes maneuvering, with smaller allies leveraging their caste influence to extract concessions. LJP(RV), a splinter of the 2020 LJP that won one of 135 seats (5.66% share), capitalized on Chirag Paswan’s rising star status post his 2024 Lok Sabha sweep of all five contested seats. HAM(S), with four wins from seven seats in 2020 (0.89% share), gained leverage through Manjhi’s Dalit base, while RLM’s inclusion strengthens the NDA’s appeal among OBCs. Sources indicate the BJP prioritized urban centers like Patna and Muzaffarpur, JD(U) targeted EBC and Mahadalit belts, and LJP(RV) secured Paswan-heavy seats. The final seat list, due October 13, aims to maximize winnability ahead of the November 6 first-phase nomination deadline. Modi’s October 15 “Mera Booth, Sabse Majboot” worker interaction, announced on X, will kickstart the campaign, urging cadres to share grassroots insights for a “big victory.”

Also Read: NDA Finalizes Bihar Seat-Sharing Deal, Chirag Paswan Gets 26 Seats

The NDA’s cohesive front contrasts sharply with the opposition Mahagathbandhan (INDIA bloc), comprising RJD, Congress, Left parties, and Mukesh Sahani’s VIP, which remains stalled on seat allocations. RJD seeks 120-130 seats, Congress demands 50+, and VIP eyes 20, while Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj claims all 243, threatening vote splits. AIMIM’s plan to contest 100 Seemanchal seats further complicates the opposition’s math. Bihar’s electorate, grappling with unemployment and migration—7.5 million Biharis live outside the state—faces a high-stakes choice. The NDA’s 2020 tally of 125 seats (BJP 74, JD(U) 43, others 8) gives it an edge, but anti-incumbency and RJD’s job-centric pitch pose risks. Voter list revisions, with 6.2 lakh deletions sparking bias allegations, add logistical hurdles for the 7.2 crore electorate.

As campaigning intensifies, the NDA’s balanced pact positions Nitish Kumar for a potential ninth term, bolstered by Chirag’s Dalit outreach and Modi’s star power. The opposition’s disarray, coupled with Tej Pratap Yadav’s JJD wildcard and Jan Suraaj’s disruptive bid, could fragment anti-NDA votes. With 8.5 lakh election officials deployed and EVMs under scrutiny, Bihar’s two-phase contest promises a fierce caste-and-development battle. The NDA’s “cordial” deal, as Pradhan noted on X, sets a confident tone, but its success hinges on translating seat math into booth-level triumphs in a state where loyalty shifts with the wind.

Also Read: Chirag Paswan Scales Down Seat Demand; BJP Offers Only 26 Seats