Bihar poll dates out but coalition partners yet to finalise seat sharing

Even as the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the schedule for the Bihar Assembly election, the two coalitions — the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and Opposition’s grand alliance — are yet to finalise the seat-sharing arrangement. Each side is struggling to strike a balance between aspirations and winnability.

Bihar Assembly election schedule: Follow highlights, major announcements on October 6, 2025

The composition of each bloc has changed since the 2020 election and there are additional claimants for the 243 seats in the Bihar Assembly.

According to sources, in the NDA, the Janata Dal (United) could contest on 107 seats and the BJP on 105. Leaving 31 seats to be divided between Union Minister Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), Union Minister Jitan Ram Majhi’s Hindustan Awam Morcha (HAM) and Rajya Sabha MP Upendra Kushwaha’s Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP).

The JD(U) has left it to the BJP to balance the equation. “JD(U) is the preeminent partner in the alliance and should be given the largest share of seats. As far as LJP (RV), HAM and RLSP are concerned, they have been BJP’s allies and it is for the BJP to negotiate the deal with them,” JD(U)’s national spokesperson K.C. Tyagi said.

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In 2020, JD(U) had contested on 115 seats, BJP on 110 and Mr. Majhi’s HAM on seven. The united Lok Janshakti Party contested independent of the two blocs on 134 seats. Mr. Paswan’s decision to contest alone contributed to split in the party with his uncle Pashupati Nath Paras walking away with five of its six Lok Sabha MPs.

This election, Mr. Paswan’s LJP (RV) is back with the NDA, making seat division tricky. “It is not about the number of seats but about the quality of seats. We do not want to be saddled with seats that no one else is willing to contest from in the NDA,” a top LJP leader said.

It is not easy for the Opposition either. The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) began formal discussions on Sunday evening with its allies to come up with a seat division formula.

As per sources RJD has offered 12 seats to Mukesh Sahani’s Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP). Emerging out of the meeting on Sunday evening, Mr. Sahani told reporters that the grand alliance will form the government and he will be the Deputy Chief Minister.

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The CPI has been offered six seats and CPI(M) four seats. Their tally remains unchanged from 2020 polls.

The CPI, it is learnt, is not happy with the offer. To negotiate further, party general secretary D. Raja is reaching Patna on Tuesday (October 7, 2025). “There is popular support for the Mahagathbandhan. The seat division is a tricky issue, and mutual trust should be the basis for any decision. RJD and the Congress should be more accommodative,” Mr. Raja said.

No formal offer has been made to either CPI(ML), which has demanded 40 seats, or the Congress. The RJD which fought on 144 seats does not want to climb down below 130, leaving 113 seats to be divided between five allies, including the Congress.