Key Highlights:
- NDA seat sharing Bihar formula announced with BJP and JDU getting 101 seats each for first time since 2005
- Chirag Paswan’s LJP emerges as biggest beneficiary with 29 seats, up from independent contesting in 2020
- Jitan Ram Manjhi’s HAM reduced to 6 seats from 7 in 2020, reflecting adjustment politics
The National Democratic Alliance has finalised its NDA seat sharing Bihar arrangement for the upcoming Assembly elections, marking a significant shift in the state’s political landscape. For the first time since 2005, the Bharatiya Janata Party and Janata Dal United will contest equal numbers of seats, with each party allocated 101 constituencies out of Bihar’s 243 assembly seats. This NDA seat sharing Bihar announcement, made by BJP General Secretary Vinod Tawde after extensive negotiations in New Delhi, signals the end of JDU’s traditional dominance in seat allocation within the alliance.
Historic Shift in Alliance Dynamics
The equal seat distribution between BJP and JDU represents a fundamental transformation in Bihar’s political balance of power. Unlike previous elections where JDU consistently received more seats than its alliance partner, this NDA seat sharing Bihar formula establishes parity between the two major constituents. In the 2020 Assembly elections, JDU had contested 115 seats while BJP contested 110 seats, with JDU maintaining its status as the senior partner in the alliance.
The historical context underscores the significance of this NDA seat sharing Bihar change, as JDU has traditionally contested more seats than BJP since their alliance began in 2005. In 2005, JDU contested 139 seats compared to BJP’s 102, and in 2010, the distribution was 141 for JDU against 102 for BJP. This shift reflects BJP’s growing confidence and political strength in Bihar, moving away from its historical role as the junior partner in the NDA seat sharing Bihar framework.
The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has finalised its seat-sharing formula for the upcoming Bihar elections, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Janata Dal-United (JDU) contesting 101 seats each, and the Chirag Paswan-led Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) contesting 29… pic.twitter.com/2fGl3POUlS
— Inquisitive S (@InquisitiveS_) October 12, 2025
Chirag Paswan’s Strategic Victory
Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) has secured 29 seats in the final NDA seat sharing Bihar arrangement, emerging as the biggest winner in the negotiations. This allocation is particularly significant given that Paswan’s party contested independently in 2020, playing a spoiler role that damaged JDU’s electoral prospects and contributed to their reduced tally of just 43 seats. Paswan had initially demanded 40 seats but accepted the reduced allocation after extensive negotiations with BJP leadership regarding the NDA seat sharing Bihar formula.
The substantial seat allocation to LJP reflects BJP’s strategic calculation to promote Paswan as a prominent Dalit leader in Bihar politics. Political observers note that Paswan’s 100% strike rate in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, where his party won all 5 seats it contested, significantly strengthened his bargaining position in the NDA seat sharing Bihar discussions. His party’s nearly 6% vote share in the last general election made him a valuable ally for the alliance, forcing both BJP and JDU to accommodate his political ambitions.
Impact on Smaller Alliance Partners
The NDA seat sharing Bihar formula has resulted in reduced allocations for some of the alliance’s smaller partners, particularly Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular). Manjhi’s party has been allocated only 6 seats, down from the 7 seats it contested in 2020, when it achieved a 57% strike rate by winning 4 constituencies. Political sources indicate that Manjhi’s seat reduction was directly linked to accommodating Chirag Paswan’s demands within the NDA seat sharing Bihar negotiations, demonstrating the alliance’s priority in promoting Paswan over other Dalit leaders.
Upendra Kushwaha’s Rashtriya Lok Morcha has been allocated 6 seats, maintaining its position within the alliance structure. The final NDA seat sharing Bihar arrangement accounts for 243 seats distributed among all partners, leaving no seats unallocated, indicating the comprehensive nature of the negotiations. Bihar’s projected population for 2024 stands at 128.3 million with 76.4 million registered electors, representing an elector-population ratio of 0.596.
Electoral Implications and Opposition Response
The NDA seat sharing Bihar announcement comes as the opposition Mahagathbandhan continues to struggle with finalising its own allocation among RJD, Congress, and other alliance partners. The delay in opposition seat-sharing could provide the alliance with an early campaign advantage, particularly given that the last date for filing nominations for the first phase of polling is October 17, 2025.
RJD leader Mrityunjay Tiwari has criticised the NDA seat sharing Bihar arrangement, suggesting that BJP aims to eventually eliminate JDU from state politics through this equal seat-sharing formula. This criticism reflects the opposition’s attempt to exploit potential tensions within the alliance, particularly regarding the reduced role of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in the NDA seat sharing Bihar hierarchy. The Bihar Assembly elections are scheduled to be held in two phases on November 6 and 11, 2025, with counting on November 14.
Closing Assessment
The NDA seat sharing Bihar formula for 2025 Assembly elections represents more than mere electoral arithmetic; it signals a fundamental realignment in the state’s political power structure. BJP’s achievement of parity with JDU, combined with Chirag Paswan’s significant seat allocation, demonstrates the saffron party’s strategic vision for long-term dominance in Bihar politics. This NDA seat sharing Bihar arrangement positions the alliance for a cohesive campaign while potentially setting the stage for future leadership transitions within the framework.
