After the nominations for the first and second phase of Bihar Assembly elections, it has now become clear that this time the mathematics of seat distribution in both the major alliances, NDA and Grand Alliance, has completely changed. Interestingly, the seats of all the constituent parties of NDA have decreased compared to the last election, while the Left parties and VIP party in the grand alliance have gained this time.

In the last assembly elections, NDA had given 115 seats to JDU and 110 seats to BJP, but this time both the major parties have to contest equally on 101-101 seats. That means JDU’s 14 seats and BJP’s 9 seats have decreased. To accommodate allies, BJP-JDU have left a total of 23 seats. The situation of other constituent parties of NDA is also not any better. Jitan Ram Manjhi’s party ‘Hum’ had got seven seats last time, which has reduced to six this time.

Who got how many seats and who will contest from where?

Whereas Upendra Kushwaha’s party ‘RLMO’ (formerly RLSP) has got six seats in NDA. Last time, he separated from both the NDA and the Grand Alliance and formed the Grand Democratic Secular Front, in which he got a chance to contest elections on 104 seats. This time Chirag Paswan’s party Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) has also returned to NDA. Last time, after separating from NDA, LJP (RA) had fielded candidates on 134 seats, whereas now after joining the alliance, it has got 29 seats.

Congress sacrificed nine seats in the Grand Alliance

On the other hand, the period of fight for seats and compromise in the Grand Alliance also lasted for a long time. According to the final list, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has got 143 seats this time, which is only one less than last time. RJD has released the list of its candidates. This time Congress has been given 61 seats, whereas last time it had contested on 70 seats. That means Congress has sacrificed the maximum of nine seats in the Grand Alliance.

The position of left parties in the elections is better than before.

The situation of the left parties has become better this time than before. In 2020, a total of 29 seats were given to the Left parties (CPI-ML, CPI and CPM) by the Grand Alliance. But this time this number has increased to 35. CPI-ML is contesting on 20 seats instead of 19, CPI on nine seats instead of six and CPM on six seats instead of four.

Inflow of new parties in both the alliances

This time, ‘Vikassheel Insaan Party’ (VIP) has also joined the Grand Alliance, which earlier had got 11 seats from the NDA, whereas now in the Grand Alliance it has got the opportunity to contest elections on 15 seats.

The interesting thing is that this time there has been an influx of new parties in both the alliances. While NDA has made space for LJP (RA), the Grand Alliance has taken VIPs along. However, dissatisfaction and mutual conflict over seat distribution is being seen in both the alliances. Overall, in this election season of Bihar, while the Left parties and VIPs have gained in share, the NDA has suffered losses in the equation of seats. Now it will be interesting to see in whose favor this mathematics works in the election results – ‘Grand Alliance or NDA’.

Regarding Bihar assembly elections, National General Secretary of CPI (ML), an important party associated with the leftist camp, Dipankar Bhattacharya has given a big statement on seat sharing and unity of the alliance. He admitted that this time the alliance is bigger than before, due to which delay in seat coordination and some disagreements were natural.

Dipankar Bhattacharya said that this time there was a desire to include Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) in the alliance. Due to this, all the parties had to sacrifice some of their seats. He told that due to this process there was some delay in ticket distribution and complete unity could not be achieved immediately on some seats.

There should be complete unity in every assembly constituency

Dipankar Bhattacharya also clarified that it has been decided by the alliance that there will be no ‘friendly fight’ on any seat. He said that we have made it clear that there should be complete unity in every assembly constituency. Wherever there is some confusion, that too will be resolved by the last date of withdrawal of nominations.

#WATCH Patna, Bihar | CPI(ML) leader Dipankar Bhattacharya says, “It’s a bigger coalition this time. The VIP party (Vikassheel Insaan Party) wanted to accommodate this new party. And that meant that everybody had to sacrifice a few seats. So the whole thing got a bit delayed.… pic.twitter.com/LRuyLY1KVp

— ANI (@ANI) October 19, 2025

Left parties performed their responsibilities with full honesty

The CPI(ML) leader claimed that the Left parties have played their part honestly and have given top priority to strengthening the alliance. He said that our aim is not to win or lose on any one seat, but to stop the fascist forces in entire Bihar and strengthen the voice of the people.

Dipankar Bhattacharya also said that even though seat distribution may have taken time, the unity of the India alliance will be even stronger at the time of elections. He expressed hope that by the time the process of withdrawal of nominations is completed, the alliance’s common candidate on every seat will become clear and opposition unity will emerge in a stronger form than before.

Our goal is not power, but change – Bhattacharya

Dipankar Bhattacharya finally said that our goal is not power but change. The expectations of the people in Bihar are high and we will unite and try to live up to them.

Political analysts believe that this statement of CPI(ML) is not only an attempt to calm the dissatisfaction related to seat sharing, but also gives a message that the Left parties still want to maintain balance and cooperation within the alliance.

Mahagathbandhan meeting: The Grand Alliance meeting is being held in the RJD office in Patna today (Thursday) on Bihar Assembly Elections 2025. The meeting started at 2 pm. Leaders of Congress, CPIML, CPM, CPI and VIP are present in this meeting along with RJD. The meeting is going to run till evening.

CPIML has 12 MLAs. Tejashwi Yadav has got the green signal for CM Face. State Secretary of CPIML Kunal said that Tejashwi considers the Chief Minister of the Grand Alliance. RJD is the largest party of the Grand Alliance. Tejashwi is the biggest leader. Common minimum program will be discussed in today’s meeting. There will be talks on how to defeat NDA.

Who reached the grand alliance meeting?

Bihar Congress state president Rajesh Ram, Krishna Allavaru in -charge of Bihar Congress, Legislative Assembly Party leader Shakeel Ahmed Khan have also reached RJD office to attend this meeting of the Grand Alliance. Developing human party also reached Mukesh Sahni, the head of the party. Ajay Kumar, MLA from CPM, has reached. From RJD Apart from Tejashwi Yadav, Abdul Bari Siddiqui and Sanjay Yadav are present. State Secretary from CPIML is Kunal. Ajay Kumar from CPM and KD Yadav from CPI are included.

Let us know that in this meeting, seat sharing, common minimum programs, co-ordination committee, election strategy, shared election campaign etc. are to be discussed. If this is the first meeting, then issues like seat sharing will not be discussed yet. However, it is certain that RJD will fight more seats. The rest of the parties will be given seats according to them.

While the Congress is claiming to fight over 70 seats, VIP chief Mukesh Sahni is also saying that If there was a meeting of the national executive, then the workers wished that our party contested 60 seats. Sahni is also claiming the post of Deputy CM on the formation of the Grand Alliance government.