Patna, Oct 9: The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is once again grappling with seat-sharing tensions in Bihar as two of its allies — the Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) and the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) — pushed for a larger share ahead of the November Assembly elections.
HAM president and former Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi on Wednesday demanded 15 Assembly seats for his party, more than double the seven it contested in the 2020 polls. The HAM had won four of those seven seats last time.
Quoting poet Ramdhari Singh Dinkar’s Rashmirathi, Manjhi invoked a verse in which Lord Krishna urges the Kauravas to give the Pandavas “five villages” to avoid war. “If there has to be justice, then part with half. If there is an obstacle, then give ‘15 villages’ and keep the rest. The HAM will gladly accept that share and will not raise a sword against its kin,” he said, drawing laughter and applause from his supporters.
Party sources said Manjhi has conveyed to the BJP leadership that HAM deserves a “dignified share” of seats and could reconsider its participation in the alliance if the demand is ignored. BJP president JP Nadda is learnt to have spoken to Manjhi to defuse tensions.
Meanwhile, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief and Union Minister Chirag Paswan remains firm on contesting 40 seats, even as the BJP has reportedly offered 25. Chirag, who went solo in the 2020 Assembly polls by fielding candidates in 135 constituencies, had significantly dented the NDA’s then partner, JD(U), in several key segments.
Chirag has called an emergency meeting of the party in Patna on Thursday to deliberate on the seat-sharing impasse. Party insiders hinted that the LJP may explore a tie-up with Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party if its demands are not met.
“Chirag wants a fair say within the NDA. The party workers are clear that without adequate representation, there is no reason to compromise,” a senior LJP functionary said.
The LJP leader has also continued his attacks on Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, accusing him of presiding over “deteriorating law and order” in the state.
Meanwhile, the BJP’s Bihar election committee met for the third time on Wednesday to finalise candidate panels for constituencies the party lost in 2020. “We have prepared lists of potential candidates, which will now be sent to the central leadership,” state BJP chief Dilip Jaiswal said. The final decision will be taken by the party’s central election committee chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In the 2020 Assembly polls, the NDA — comprising the BJP, JD(U), HAM and Vikasheel Insaan Party — formed the government with BJP winning 80 seats, JD(U) 45, and HAM 4. The opposition Grand Alliance secured 77 seats for the RJD, 19 for the Congress, 11 for CPI(ML), and two each for the CPI and CPM.
Both the ruling and opposition blocs are now navigating fresh alliance arithmetic as Bihar gears up for another high-stakes election season.
Inset:
LJP meet in Patna today
LJP chief Chirag Paswan has convened an emergency meeting of party leaders in Patna on Thursday. Sources said the party could consider aligning with Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party if its seat demand within the NDA remains unmet.
