Patna, India – The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has announced its seat-sharing arrangement for the upcoming Bihar Assembly Elections 2025. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Janata Dal (United) [JD(U)] will contest 101 seats each. This marks a significant shift, as it is the first time the JD(U) will not contest more seats than the BJP in an assembly election, signaling a potential realignment of power within the ruling alliance.

Smaller allies are also set to play a crucial role in the elections. The Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) [LJP(RV)] will contest 29 seats. Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) and Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) will each contest six seats.

The announcement was made on Sunday by key leaders of the NDA. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan shared the update, noting that the agreement was reached in a cordial atmosphere and welcomed by leaders and workers of all NDA parties. Other leaders, including JD(U) working president Sanjay Kumar Jha, Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Samrat Choudhary, and LJP (Ram Vilas) leader Chirag Paswan, also confirmed the seat-sharing arrangement.

The NDA leaders have expressed confidence in their alliance and its prospects for the upcoming elections. One leader stated, "The auspicious beginning of this victory campaign has been made...and this is a splendid start... We will fight together with full strength and register a big victory".

However, the seat-sharing arrangement has also drawn criticism from opposition parties. Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Mrityunjay Tiwari claimed that the BJP aims to eliminate the JD(U), alleging that the BJP has reduced the JD(U.) to the same level after being the "elder brother" in the alliance. Tiwari also suggested that the BJP would attempt to install its own Chief Minister after the elections, and that the BJP devised a formula to eliminate smaller parties. He noted that Jitan Babu Manjhi and Upendra Kushwaha had been asking for fifteen seats but were given six.

Despite these criticisms, the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) claims its seat-sharing formula has almost been finalized and will be announced very soon. They maintain that all is well within the alliance, and they are extremely strong and poised for a grand victory. One leader emphasized that it is not about seats, but about victory.

The Bihar Assembly Elections 2025 are shaping up to be a closely contested affair, with both the NDA and the Mahagathbandhan vying for power. The results of the election will have significant implications for the political landscape of Bihar and the broader national political scene.