Patna: In a dramatic shift from long-standing norms, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday distributed Janata Dal (United) tickets for the upcoming Assembly elections directly from his official residence, sparking whispers of unease within the ruling NDA alliance over seat-sharing deals.
Bypassing the party’s usual press conference ritual, Kumar handed out nominations amid a flurry of activity at the CM House, where hopeful candidates queued up all day. Among the recipients were heavyweights like Minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav, state JDU chief Umesh Singh Kushwaha (Mahanar seat), and strongman Anant Singh (Mokama). Several have already filed nominations, with first-phase deadlines set for October 17 and second-phase for October 20. Polling kicks off November 6, followed by results on November 14.
The move comes against speculation of Nitish’s frustration with the BJP, which secured an equal 101 seats in the pact — its first such parity with JDU. BJP’s first list stunned many: it axed seven-time MLA and Assembly Speaker Nand Kishore Yadav while fielding Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary after a decade and sending Health Minister Mangal Pandey to contest from a Vidhan Sabha seat.
Tensions peaked when Gopalpur MLA Gopal Mandal staged an uninvited dharna at the CM House after being denied entry, fuelling reports of internal rifts. Local MP Ajay Mandal even offered to resign, alleging tickets in his Bhagalpur turf were doled out without consultation.
NDA allies rushed to quell rumours. JDU’s Sanjay Kumar Jha dismissed Opposition “divisive whispers”, insisting the INDIA bloc was the real fragile one.
Chirag Paswan, once Nitish’s critic, tweeted about the NDA’s unity under the CM’s leadership, while Jitan Ram Manjhi downplayed his six seats as insufficient grounds for a split. LJP (Ram Vilas) bagged 29, and RLSP six — some allegedly poached from JDU’s quota.
Across the aisle, Mahagathbandhan’s Lalu Prasad paused RJD ticket distribution on son Tejashwi Yadav’s orders for “discipline”, amid RJD-Congress seat-sharing spats. CPI(ML) Liberation filed six nominations, undeterred.
As alliances brace for battle, Bihar’s political chessboard is heating up— will Nitish’s gambit steady the NDA ship?