Patna, September 6 – As Bihar gears up for the upcoming Assembly elections, tensions are rising within the NDA alliance. Union MSME Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, leader of Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM), criticized Chirag Paswan, chief of the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), for his seat demand remarks.
When asked about Chirag Paswan’s changing hopes for seats, Manjhi replied, “Chirag Paswan said he would contest on 137 seats, then 43 seats, and now he wants something in between. I’ve known Chirag since 2020, and I don’t want to say anything more about him.” His comments highlight the ongoing disagreements within the NDA over seat sharing.
Earlier, Chirag’s party clarified their stance. The LJP (Ram Vilas) had contested just 43 seats in 2015 and expanded to 137 in 2020. Now, they expect a fair number of seats between these figures for the 2025 elections.
Meanwhile, Jitan Ram Manjhi has openly demanded that HAM contest in 20 seats. He made it clear he expects his party’s fair share in the NDA seat distribution, adding pressure to the ongoing negotiations.
The dispute between Chirag Paswan and Manjhi has put the BJP in a tricky spot. With both allies pushing for more seats, the BJP must carefully balance these demands to keep the NDA united in Bihar before the elections.
Manjhi emphasized the importance of unity within the NDA. After arriving in Patna, he said, “It is crucial for Bihar and India that we come together to strengthen the NDA.” He also mentioned that a key seat-sharing meeting among NDA allies will take place in Delhi after the Vice Presidential election.
During his visit, Manjhi praised the Narendra Modi government for its economic reforms, especially the introduction of GST, which he called a historic gift to India. “No government before Modi’s has done so much for the poor,” he said.
When questioned about his earlier statement that HAM could contest all 243 Assembly seats independently, Manjhi clarified, “Sometimes we make such statements to motivate our workers. But if necessary, we are ready to contest on all 243 seats.”
The ongoing negotiations are shaping up to be a challenge for the NDA. Chirag Paswan’s LJP (RV) wants a sizable share of seats, while Manjhi has set his sights on 20. With JDU finalizing some candidates, the BJP will need to manage its allies carefully to keep the alliance united and prepared for the Bihar elections.
