‘MAHABHARAT’ ERUPTS OVE SEAT SHARING IN NDA, CHIRAG DEMANDS 40 SEATS

‘MAHABHARAT’ ERUPTS OVE SEAT SHARING IN NDA, CHIRAG DEMANDS 40 SEATS

10-SEP-ENG 3

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

PATNA-----------------Even before the bugle of Bihar Assembly Elections 2025 is sounded, a political Mahabharata has erupted within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's one-sided 'power play' and Chirag Paswan's ambitious demand for 40 seats have turned the seat-sharing talks into a chess game where every pawn is trying to checkmate the other. This tussle has increased the difficulties of the alliance's biggest party BJP.

The political temperature rose when JDU suddenly announced its candidate for Buxar's Rajpur assembly seat. This move was not just an announcement, but a direct and clear message - "The remote control of Bihar NDA's decisions is still in our hands." If sources are to be believed, this is just a glimpse; Nitish Kumar has also instructed many of his party's current MLAs and potential candidates to start election preparations by assuring them of "guaranteed tickets". This move is a well-thought-out strategy to put pressure on the BJP and get his terms accepted at the negotiating table.

On the other hand, LJP (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan has created a storm within the NDA by demanding more than 40 seats. Chirag is not only adamant on the number, but he has also made it clear that he will contest from a general seat instead of a reserved seat. His strategy behind this is twofold: Changing the image: Establishing himself as the "young face of Bihar" by taking himself out of the confines of a caste leader. Creating pressure: Sending a message to the BJP and JDU that he cannot be taken lightly and he wants a bigger and decisive role in the alliance.

In this political battle, small parties like Jitan Ram Manjhi's 'Hum' and Upendra Kushwaha's RLM are also adamant about their share. Everyone wants to get a respectable share in this division, so that their political ambitions can be fulfilled. The respective demands of these parties have made this seat sharing puzzle even more complicated.

Nitish Kumar's message: "I am still the biggest face and boss of Bihar NDA." Chirag Paswan's claim: "Don't make the mistake of considering me a junior partner, I have my own strength." Stubbornness of small parties: "We also exist and we cannot be ignored."

Overall, the seat sharing of NDA is no longer just the math of seats, but has become a high-voltage drama of dominance, pressure and securing political future. If the central leadership of BJP is not able to calm this political storm in time, then the alliance boat is bound to crack even before the election journey begins, which will directly benefit the opposition.