Trouble Brews in NDA Camp as Allies Express Dissatisfaction Over Seat Allocation

Strategic Insights -

Tensions continue to simmer within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in poll-bound Bihar, with allies Janata Dal (United), Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM), and Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) expressing discontent over the seat allocation and recent seat-swapping arrangements. Despite the alliance finalizing its seat-sharing formula with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the RLM and JD(U) are locked in a dispute over the Mahua seat, with the RLM wanting to contest from it. The issue has led to a series of high-level meetings between RLM leaders and BJP officials, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Key Takeaways:

  • RLM president Upendra Kushwaha and Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi to discuss the contentious seat allocation issue.
  • The bone of contention between LJP (RV) and RLM is the Mahua seat, which Kushwaha's party wants to contest from, but has been allocated to LJP (RV).
  • The seat-sharing arrangement sees BJP and JD(U) contesting on 101 seats each, with LJP (RV) contesting on 29, and RLM and Jitan Ram Manjhi's HAM(S) each contesting on six seats.
  • RLM's allocation of six seats may disappoint many, according to Kushwaha, who has eyes on the Mahua seat and possibly wants to field his son from there.
  • Chief Minister Nitish Kumar objected to some of JD(U)'s traditional seats going to LJP (RV), including Sonbarsa and Rajgir constituencies.
  • Manjhi expressed solidarity with JD(U) and threatened to field candidates from two seats that were not allocated to the party, instructing his supporters to boycott JD(U) candidates if necessary.

Statistics:

  • 101 seats allocated to BJP and JD(U) each in the NDA's seat-sharing arrangement.
  • 29 seats allocated to LJP (RV).
  • 6 seats each allocated to RLM and Jitan Ram Manjhi's HAM(S).
  • 101 seats contested by JD(U) and BJP combined in the NDA.
  • 6 seats allocated to RLM and HAM(S) combined in the NDA.

Sources:

  • [Union Minister Nityanand Rai]
  • [RLM president Upendra Kushwaha]
  • [Union Home Minister Amit Shah]
  • [Chief Minister Nitish Kumar]
  • [Manjhi, upset after his demand for more seats was not met]
  • [Hindustan Times]