Bihar Assembly election 2025: Multiple rounds of meetings and talks were held in Biharand Delhi for the finalisation of an appropriate seat-sharing formula in both camps – NDA and INDIA bloc. The nomination deadline for the first phase of Bihar electionis October 17, and the NDA bloc has been ahead in terms of seat-sharing announcement and candidate list for the polls. While in the Mahagathbandhan, things seem to be not working properly as several RJD leadersfiled nomination, despite no clarity and announcement of the INDIA bloc’s seat-sharing arrangement.
For the ruling NDA, Bihar is all about showing its strength, winning which, they will be able to back everything they have said about the CM Nitish Kumar-led NDA rule. As for the opposition’s Mahagathbandhan, Bihar battle is about their strategy, unity, dedication to the coalition and more.
[img=1px,1px]https://data.indianexpress.com/election2019/track_1x1.jpg[/img]Apart from third front parties like Prashant Kishor’ Jan Suraaj, Asaduddin Owaisi’sAIMIM and Tej Pratap Yadav’sJan Janshakti Janta Dal, and the Aam Aadmi Party(AAP) – it is the Mahagathbandhan that should be worrying the NDA and the magic lies in the maths of their seat-sharing deal.
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A look at key opposition parties in Bihar and their alliances:
Bihar’s key opposition parties
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD): Nurtured by former Bihar CM Lalu Prasad Yadav, and currently being led by his younger son Tejashwi Yadav, the RJD is the main opposition party standing against the JDU and the entire NDA. The party has grown with the support of Dalits, OBCs, and marginalised communities.
This time, the party has focused its campaign against the election commission’s Special Intensive Revision(SIR), unemployment and youth centric issues. Tejashwihas promised one government job in every household, intensifying the Bihar poll campaign.
The RJD currently has 75 seats in Bihar assembly. Though no formal announcement has been made, the party reportedly asked for 140 seats to contest. The party has not released the list, but if reports are to be believed, over 40 candidates have been given symbols.
Indian National Congress: The grand-old party has been struggling to regain its shine since after it faced massive defeat at the hands of BJP in 2014 Lok Sabha elections. In Bihar, the party never really had a ground. Though it is a key part of the mega alliance, the importance of its role has always been in question.
The party has backed Tejashwi Yadav as the CM face for their coalition. Despite this, there seems to be a contention between the two allies as Congress reportedly asked for 65 seats, but RJD agreed only for 55. As no deal is out yet, how many constituencies Congress will contest remains unclear.
Congress has 19 MLAs in Bihar assembly.
The Left Parties (CPI, CPI(M), CPI(ML) (Liberation)): Traditionally, these parties have been allies to RJD and Congressin Bihar. These parties have, on multiple occasions, have performed fairly well in the elections, making them a crucial part of the coalition.
In the 2020 Bihar elections, CPI won 4 seats, CPI (M) 2 and CPI (ML) 12. With deal pending in INDIA bloc, CPI-ML announced names of 18 candidates and CPI declared names to contest from six assembly constituencies.
Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM): The JMM recently joined the opposition alliance and earlier gave the deadline of Oct 14- 15 to the bloc, saying if not seat-sharing not finalised by then, they would announce their candidates. So, far no names have been announced.
Indian Inclusive Party (IIP): A new entrant in the opposition’s alliance is the IIP. The party was launched by IP Gupta, a leader who rose to fame as a voice of the Paan community.
He has been seeking SC status for the Tanti and Tatwa communities, who were moved to the Extremely Backward Class (EBC) after the Supreme Court’s order.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP): Former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal’sAAP is alone contesting all 243 seats in Bihar. The party is eyeing to get some ground in the state with its governance model and social development agenda.
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM): Despite multiple attempts to form an alliance, Asaduddin Owaisi is now forced to contest Bihar elections alone. His party AIMIM will contest 100 seats, projecting itself as an alternative to both the NDA and Mahagathbandhan.
AIMIM won 5 seats but four of its MLAs switched sides joining Tejashwi Yadav’s RJD.
Jan Suraaj Party: The frontrunner of the rising third front in Bihar, Prashant Kishor’sJan Suraaj party is challenging both the NDA and INDIA alliance. With focus on development-related policies, Kishor has rallied across the state ditching both Nitish and Tejashwi’s mode of governance in Bihar.
Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP): Mukesh Sahni’s VIP, a part of Mahagathbandhan and earlier, has been upset during the initial phases of the discussion. Other parties like Congress have raised objections to their demand of more than 20 seats in Bihar assembly election.
VIP candidates won 3 seats, but they all joined BJP. But the party still wields power in North Bihar.
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Multiple parties, 2 alliances and one agenda – Bihar
The dynamics of Bihar elections have changed this time. Owaisi’s AIMIM contesting on 100 seats is a blow in itself for the ruling and mega opposition blocs as the Hyderabad MP eyes minority votes. Jan Suraaj is another front that can result in lesser vote shares for both NDA and INDIA.
And hence, keeping the partners together is the biggest challenge for them.
The INDIA bloc is struggling to keep up with the demands of the parties that are part of the alliance. For the leaders, it has been tough to maintain a balance between what the parties asked for and what they can be allotted. RJD, being the biggest party in the opposition, has sought 140 seats.
This would leave the rest of the members – Congress, IIP, VIP, JMM, CPI-ML, others with even lesser constituencies to distribute from. The alliance has a mammoth task to overcome this trouble to present a united front along with a sound seat distribution for the elections.
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The NDA has also been on the verge of infighting after LJP (RV)’s Chirag Paswanand HAM leader Jitan Ram Manjhi reportedly expressed dissatisfaction over the seat allocation, but the signals that came out later showed there have been some positive developments.
The principal opposition alliance in Bihar – Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA bloc)- has constituent members that bring a distinct social base, agenda, and leadership style, and combining their strength would be the only way for the coalition to come out stronger than ever. |
