CHIRAG’S ‘BRAHMASTRA OF 22 SEATS’ CREATES RIPPLES WITHING THE NDA

PATNA (RNI) As the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections draw closer, the political landscape is becoming more complex. This time, the spotlight is on LJP (Ram Vilas) chief and Union Minister Chirag Paswan, who has shaken up the seat-sharing equation within the NDA. According to sources, Chirag has finalized a list of 22 confirmed seats and is scheduled to meet with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP President JP Nadda in the next 24 to 48 hours.

The seat-sharing debate is currently gaining momentum not in Patna, but in Delhi. His supporters and leaders are camping outside Chirag's Delhi residence. This indicates that a major announcement could be made in the coming two days.

The news is that among the 22-25 seats Chirag is staking, many are held by sitting MLAs from the JDU and BJP. Furthermore, Chirag is also demanding a Rajya Sabha seat. This clearly shows the unease within the NDA. Many sitting MLAs and even a few ministers in the Bihar government are shocked by this list.

Sources indicate that Chirag is unwilling to compromise on fewer than 20 seats. If he doesn't get 45 seats, he wants a guarantee of at least 22 seats where his team claims to be fully prepared.

Chirag's list includes key seats like Brahmapur, Sonbarsa, Rafiganj, Mahua, Gaighat, Taraiya, Mahnar, Arwal, Jehanabad, Obra, Simri Bakhtiyarpur, Kadba, Matihani, Rupauli, Kasba, Dehri, Atri, Sahebpur Kamal, and Alauli. JDU and BJP leaders have already been considered strong on these issues.

The real question now is to what extent will Chirag's aggressive demands be met within the NDA. Will both the BJP and JDU be able to withstand Chirag's pressure, or will this tussle raise questions about the strength of the alliance itself?