What are the seat-sharing arrangements for Bihar polls?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- NDA seat-sharing finalized: JD(U) and BJP each contest 101 seats.
- Junior partners: LJP (R), RLM, and HAM share remaining seats.
- Election dates: First phase on November 6, second on November 11.
New Delhi, Oct 12 (NationPress) Concluding the uncertainty surrounding the seat allocation within the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, BJP’s Bihar in-charge Dharmendra Pradhan announced on Sunday that the Nitish Kumar-led JD(U) and the BJP will each contest 101 seats. The remaining seats will be allocated to junior coalition partners, including LJP (R), RLM, and HAM.
This announcement followed a series of discussions among NDA alliance partners both in Delhi and Patna to finalize a seat-sharing formula.
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan took to his social media to disclose the seat-sharing arrangements within the NDA.
“We, the NDA allies, have finalized the seat-sharing in a friendly atmosphere. JDU 101, BJP 101, LJP (Ram Vilas) 29, Rashtriya Lok Morcha 6, and Hindustani Awam Morcha 6,” he mentioned in a post on X.
“The NDA partners have successfully completed the allocation of seats in a friendly environment. All workers and leaders of NDA parties are excited about this. Bihar is prepared... once again for an NDA government,” he added.
Union Minister Chirag Paswan of the Lok Janshakti Party-Ram Vilas (LJP-RV) also expressed on his X account that the NDA coalition remains strong, and all alliance members will campaign vigorously to restore the NDA government in Bihar.
The Hindustani Awam Morcha, led by former Bihar CM Jitan Ram Manjhi and currently a Union Minister, along with the Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) led by Upendra Kushwaha, will each contest 6 seats.
Importantly, the first phase of the Bihar Assembly elections is scheduled for November 6, with the second phase on November 11. The vote counting will occur on November 14.
The Nitish Kumar-led NDA alliance and the Tejashwi Yadav-led Mahagathbandhan are seen as the primary contenders in this high-stakes Bihar election.
However, the 'new player' Jan Suraaj, led by Prashant Kishor, has opened the electoral field for a potential triangular contest.