New Delhi: The NDA’s fresh seat-sharing pact for the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections has ignited fierce speculation: Will Chief Minister Nitish Kumar retain his throne, or is the BJP quietly positioning itself as the alliance’s undisputed big brother?
With polls set for November 6 and 11 (results on November 14), the formula — BJP and JD(U) contesting 101 seats each, LJP(RV) getting 29, and smaller allies six apiece — marks historic parity, fuelling Opposition jabs that Nitish’s utility is waning.
This equal split, the first since 2005, contrasts sharply with past dynamics where JD(U) dominated. In 2020, JD(U) fielded 115 candidates but clinched only 43 seats (15.39% vote share), while BJP’s 110 yielded 74 (19.46%). Back in the 2010s NDA sweep, JD(U)’s 141 contests netted 115 seats (27% votes), but BJP’s 102 brought 91 (36%). Even in 2005’s near-tie, JD(U) edged with 88/139, and BJP 55/102. The trend? BJP’s strike rate and vote growth have steadily outpaced its partner, building quiet confidence.
Critics, including RJD’s Lalu Prasad and Tejashwi Yadav, seize on Nitish’s fading campaign face — absent from BJP’s aggressive “Abki Baar Phir NDA Sarkar” slogan — and his recent health videos. Once hailed as “Sushasan Babu” for curbing Lalu-era “Jungle Raj”, Nitish now faces barbs over governance lapses. BJP chief JP Nadda dodges clarity on post-poll leadership, hinting at a fresh CM face.
The rise of Chirag Paswan’s LJP signals a shift in the political landscape. Will Bihar echo Maharashtra, where BJP sidelined Shiv Sena? Or will Nitish, backed by OBC-Dalit-Muslim support, defy the odds? With 7.42 crore voters watching, results could redefine alliances — and ambitions.