Inside Bihar NDA's camp, a noticeable struggle emerges regarding the Lok Sabha elections' seat-sharing arrangements. While the BJP has released a list of 195 candidates under its quota, the demands for seats by alliance partners are sure to complicate matters, hinting at a tug-of-war within the NDA.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Bihar, his second in five days, has been marked by addressing a rally in Betiah. Despite being present at both programs, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar enjoyed special treatment from PM; however, Chirag Paswan and Upendra Kushwaha were absent. There's no official word from the two leaders yet, but RJD suggests that these absences indicate a 'head-splitting' scenario in the NDA.
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Kushwaha and Chirag Distance From PM's Rally
The BJP clarified regarding the questions raised due to the absence of Chirag and Kushwaha that these events were official, and due to protocol, they could not be included. Sources suggested that Kushwaha was invited to participate in the Aurangabad event but couldn't be accommodated on stage as he is neither a legislator nor an MP, leading him to stay away from the program. Similarly, Chirag Paswan, an MP, might have had to accept a backseat at the official event, which could explain his absence. Their non-appearance in PM Modi's rallies raises several questions, and the opposition coalition perceives it as turmoil within the NDA.
Six Parties are Part of NDA in Bihar
The chances of a swift resolution on seat-sharing within the Bihar NDA seem slim. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's overseas trip from March 7-13 could delay decisions; however, a meeting with the BJP high command in Delhi before his departure is possible. In Bihar, JDU, the divided factions of LJP led by Chirag Paswan and Pashupati Paras, Upendra Kushwaha's Rashtriya Lok Samta Party, and Jitan Ram Manjhi's HUM form part of the NDA, collectively holding aspirations for certain seats in the forthcoming Lok Sabha election.
If we examine the seat-sharing formula from 2019, BJP alone had 17 seats out of 40 Lok Sabha constituencies. With JDU's 16 sitting MPs, it remains to be seen how far JDU will uphold its coalition commitment.
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The Uncle-Nephew's Demand for Eight Seats
During the last elections, LJP won six seats, but subsequent party splits led to a deadlock between Chirag Paswan and Uncle Pashupati Paras, with the uncle demanding two seats and the nephew six. Thus, with 33 sitting MPs between BJP-JDU out of 40 Lok Sabha seats, the remaining seven are contested. It will be interesting to see how BJP accommodates the demands of four other allies.
NDA's Six Allied Parties Demand 11 Seats
Upendra Kushwaha aims for at least two seats for his party, while Jitan Ram Manjhi's HUM considers one seat secure. Thus, four NDA allies collectively seek 11 seats, where BJP-JDU already holds 33 of the 40 seats. There is also talk of BJP not willing to contest on fewer seats than JDU, which might require BJP to distribute seats from its share to ensure cooperative election participation among allies.
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'Seat-sharing formula decided, announcement imminent'
Amidst claims of discord in the NDA, BJP spokesperson Manoj Sharma asserts the seat-sharing formula is final, with official announcements following meetings at the right time. JDU also depicts a cohesive front, affirming that the seat division will occur on schedule. RJD, they note, should focus on its predicaments rather than NDA's. JDU spokesperson Abhishek Jha emphasizes NDA's unity and ascribes Nitish's absence at the Betiah rally to his impending foreign trip.
