Bihar polls: Chirag Paswan major gainer in NDA ahead of last-minute talks; Mahagathbandan split over seat-sharing

When the candidates and their supporters should have been out in their respective constituencies campaigning, they were instead camping in the state capital, Patna. Their main stop: party offices and their leaders’ residences. The reason? Alliance talks dragging into the final hours before the announcement of candidate lists. With the last date of nomination for the first phase of polls just around the corner, October 17, anxiety was rising across parties and hopeful candidates alike.

The BJP was first off the mark, releasing its initial list of 71 candidates for the Bihar polls, even as last-minute negotiations continued among NDA partners. The allies had agreed on a seat-sharing formula, with the BJP and JD(U) contesting 101 seats each, the LJP (Ram Vilas) on 29, and HAM and RLM six each. But talks were still stuck on a few tricky constituencies, with partners lobbying hard for their own contenders. The major gainer in this seat-sharing formula has been Chirag Paswan’s party, which will contest assembly polls for the first time as an NDA partner. As a third largest alliance partner, it would further enhance its stake in the state, if it converts most seats in victory in the manner it did during the Lok Sabha polls.

On the opposite side, the Grand Alliance was still struggling to finalise its seat-sharing arrangement. The delay prompted RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav to take matters into his own hands and allot party symbols to several RJD candidates even before the deal was sealed. However, the exercise was halted by his son Tejashwi Yadav to prevent any further complications in the alliance talks.

According to sources, the Congress wants to contest the same 70 seats as last time. But the RJD is pushing for a bigger share, about 135 seats, to ensure it remains the single largest party after the polls and thus within contention for forming the government. In the 2020 elections, the Congress managed to win only 19 of the 70 seats it contested. The Congress faces a crucial challenge, as its leader Rahul Gandhi recently conducted a successful Vote Adhikar Yatra in the state, in which all prominent INDIA alliance leaders participated. The Congress claimed the yatra had generated momentum in its favour and energised its cadre. Now, if it contests a smaller number of seats, it would suggest that the yatra failed to make the desired impact, as the dominant RJD has not conceded enough seats.

On the other hand, in the BJP’s first list, most sitting MLAs and ministers have been retained, along with a few new faces. Among the key names are Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, former state president Mangal Pandey, and ex-Deputy CMs Tarkishore Prasad and Renu Devi. The message from the BJP leadership is clear: the old guard remains crucial to winning the polls.

Two notable changes stand out. Both Samrat Choudhary and Mangal Pandey, who were MLCs, have now been asked to contest assembly seats. At the BJP office, there was a sense of relief after the list was announced; it was finally time to hit the ground. Senior leaders from Delhi and other states have already landed in Patna, preparing to fan out across constituencies to oversee the campaign.

Just a stone’s throw away, at the RJD office, the mood was sombre. Workers were anxious about the delay but quietly hopeful that some of their candidates might still get tickets.

Still, one question lingers, even if they won’t say it out loud: Tejashwi Yadav is the face of their campaign, but the Grand Alliance hasn’t formally endorsed him as its chief ministerial candidate yet. That one announcement could give their campaign the push it needs.

India