NDA seals poll pact in Bihar; BJP to contest 17 seats, JD(U) gets 16
The National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) seatsharing agreement for Bihar was announced on Monday at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi, with the party set to fight 17 seats, one more than its biggest ally in the State, the Janata Dal (United) at 16 seats. The Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) led by Chirag Paswan will contest on five seats, and the Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) and the Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) on one seat each.
Bihar has 40 Lok Sabha seats, and all seats were accounted for in the announcement made by BJP leader Vinod Tawde.
“The BJP will be fighting West Champaran, East Champaran, Aurangabad, Madhubani, Araria, Darbhanga, Muzzafarpur, Maharajganj, Saran, Ujiarpur, Begusarai, Nawada, Patna Sahib, Patiliputra, Ara, Buxar and Sasaram. The JD (U) will fight on Valmikinagar, Sitamarhi, Jhanjharpur, Supaul, Kishanganj, Katihar, Purnia, Madhepura, Gopalganj, Siwan, Bhagalpur, Banka, Munger, Nalanda, Jehanabad and Sheohar. The five seats to be contested by LJP (Ram Vilas) are Vaishali, Hajipur, Samastipur, Khagaria and Jamui. HAM will contest from Gaya and RLM from Karakat,” said Mr. Tawde.
The BJP is fighting one extra seat in comparison to the JD(U) if one looks at the seat distribution from 2019 when they fought 17 each, with six going to LJP. The Gaya seat from the JD(U)’s earlier share has been farmed out to the HAM, and Karakat to the RLM, while it gets Sheohar from the BJP. The BJP in turn gets Nawada from the LJP.
Mr. Chirag seems to have bested his estranged uncle, Union Minister Pasupati Paras, in the political stakes, with no mention being made of any accommodation in this arrangement for the latter. Mr. Paras, who represents Hajipur had staked claim to that seat but it has been handed to his nephew. RLM chief Upendra Kushwaha’s supporters were reportedly upset at only being offered one seat, Karakat.
Mr. Jha, representing the JD(U) said that the election in Bihar “appeared to be a oneway poll” with the State’s “aspiration” for development very evident, meaning a landslide for the NDA.