NDA seat-sharing deal in Bihar: How many seats each party is contesting?

Bihar, a State with significant shifts in its political landscape, is set for the Assembly elections, which will be held in two phases on November 6 and 11. The State will witness another tight battle in 243 constituencies, without any major alliance projecting a chief ministerial candidate so far. The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is again locking horns with the opposition Mahagathbandhan. The results will be announced on November 14.

According to the seat sharing arrangement, the Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will each contest 101 seats, marking the first time since 2005 that the two parties will contest on an equal footing. The other NDA allies - Chirag Paswan-led LJP(RV) will contest in 29 seats, and the Upendra Kushwaha-led Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) and former CM Jitan Ram Manjhi-led Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular), have been allotted six seats each.

In 2020, the JD(U) contested 115 seats, the BJP 110, HAM(S) seven, and the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP), led by Mukesh Sahani, contested 11 as part of the NDA. Meanwhile, Chirag Paswan’s party chose to go solo, fielding candidates in 135 constituencies.

Nitish Kumar’s party has mostly contested more seats than the BJP, but the 2025 seat deal is a move towards parity within the alliance.