The Bihar Assembly elections are expected to be announced soon, possibly in the final week of September or the initial weeks of October. Following this announcement, the NDA partners will finalize their seat-sharing arrangements. A framework for seat allocation is in place, and the involved parties have largely reached an agreement. A key meeting involving senior leaders will occur to finalize the arrangements.
Seat distribution will largely follow the pattern of the previous assembly elections, while accommodating Chirag Paswan’s requirements. According to sources, he is seeking more than forty seats. BJP insiders suggest that Paswan’s request for more seats is driven by political considerations, aiming to keep his supporters encouraged. Sources say that Chirag is viewed as crucial for the alliance, and his concerns will be taken into account when allocating seats. However, the JDU is unwilling to concede more than 20 seats to him.
Past relations between Nitish Kumar, Ram Vilas Paswan, and Chirag Paswan have been complex. As a result, Chirag could face difficulties during seat distribution. Meanwhile, the BJP and JDU have mutually agreed to contest over 100 seats each, with the JDU possibly competing on slightly more seats to project its seniority in Bihar. Furthermore, some seats will be given to Jitan Ram Manjhi and Upendra Kushwaha.
The elections are anticipated to unfold in two to three phases, with Nitish Kumar at the helm, who will decide the strategy after winning. Concerns about Nitish Kumar’s health exist, but he will address the issue. The Bihar Assembly elections may be conducted in two to three phases, with the dates chosen, keeping Diwali and Chhath Puja in mind. The Bihar Assembly’s term expires on November 22, 2025, necessitating the completion of the election process before that date.
Diwali is on October 20 this year, while Chhath Puja will be observed between October 25-28. In 2020, the elections took place in three phases, and in 2015, they were conducted in five phases. The first phase of the 2020 elections saw voting on 71 assembly seats on October 28, 2020. The second phase included voting on 94 assembly seats on November 3, 2020. The third and final phase saw voting on 78 assembly seats on November 7, 2020. Counting of votes was done on November 10, 2020.
