Bihar Polls 2025: Seat-Sharing Tussle Delays Candidate Announcements as RJD Recalls Symbols, JD(U)’s Gopal Mandal Protests Outside CM Residence
Photo Credit: PTI via The Hindu
Seat-Sharing Talks Hit Last-Minute Snag Ahead of Nominations
With just days to go before the nomination deadline, political tensions in Bihar’s ruling and opposition alliances intensified on Monday night, as both the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and Opposition Mahagathbandhan struggled to finalise seat-sharing arrangements for the upcoming two-phased Assembly elections.
Sources confirmed that some Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) candidates, who had already been allotted party symbols to file nomination papers, were asked to return them after party leader Tejashwi Yadav returned to Patna from Delhi late on October 13. This sudden move sparked confusion within the Opposition bloc, underscoring the unresolved differences over seat allocation.
The 243-member Bihar Assembly will go to polls in two phases — on November 6 and November 11, with results to be declared on November 14.
Tejashwi Yadav Holds Emergency Discussions at 10, Circular Road
Soon after his arrival in Patna, Tejashwi Yadav reportedly held a series of closed-door meetings at 10, Circular Road, the residence of his mother and former Chief Minister Rabri Devi. Several RJD leaders were seen entering the premises to return the party symbols they had earlier received for filing nominations.
Party insiders revealed to The Hindu that at least seven RJD leaders were initially given the green signal to contest, but their candidature has now been placed on hold pending a review of seat allocations within the Mahagathbandhan.
A senior RJD functionary, requesting anonymity, said, “The leadership is re-examining seat-sharing numbers with our allies. Some constituencies are still being debated, and adjustments are expected.”
Meanwhile, the Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist), a Mahagathbandhan partner, confirmed that it has allotted party symbols to seven candidates and that the nomination process has already begun for them.
NDA Faces Delays Too: Gopal Mandal Protests Outside CM’s Residence
The ruling NDA alliance is also grappling with its own seat-sharing delays. While Janata Dal (United) leader Bijendra Prasad Yadav, a veteran MLA and Minister for Energy, Planning, and Development, filed his nomination papers from Supaul on October 14, the list of official NDA candidates remains pending.
In a dramatic turn, JD(U) MLA Gopal Mandal, also known as Narendra Kumar Niraj, staged a sit-in protest outside Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s official residence in Patna on Tuesday morning after rumours spread that he had been denied a party ticket from his Gopalpur constituency in Bhagalpur.
Eyewitnesses at the scene reported that Mandal, visibly agitated, shouted slogans in support of Nitish Kumar and insisted he had been “loyal to the party and the CM for years.” Security personnel were later seen escorting him away from the site.
Despite the protest, JD(U) state president Umesh Kushwaha filed his nomination papers from Manhar constituency in Vaishali district, signalling the party’s intent to move forward despite internal discontent.
NDA Leaders Insist “All Is Well”
In an attempt to quell speculation, several top NDA figures — including BJP’s Samrat Choudhary, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) leader Chirag Paswan, Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) founder Jitan Ram Manjhi, and Rashtriya Lok Morcha chief Upendra Kushwaha — took to social media on October 14, assuring supporters that “everything is going well in NDA in a cordial atmosphere.”
JD(U) working president Ashok Jha echoed a similar sentiment while speaking to reporters:
“All is well in the NDA. There is no confusion over seat-sharing. Some people are trying to spread baseless rumours. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is personally coordinating with our alliance partners.”
Meanwhile, BJP leaders convened a series of internal meetings in Patna to finalise their list of candidates. Party officials indicated that the full list would be announced by Tuesday evening. The BJP also held a media workshop at its state headquarters to prepare campaign spokespersons for coordinated messaging.
However, BJP MP from Begusarai Giriraj Singh offered a different tone, cautioning that “the party should not be in a feel-good state,” adding that “workers on the ground seem discontented.” His remarks reflect growing unease within the NDA about local-level dissatisfaction amid delayed nominations.
Why It Matters: Bihar’s High-Stakes Battle
The ongoing uncertainty in both blocs highlights the fragile coalition politics that has long characterised Bihar’s electoral landscape. For the NDA, maintaining unity between JD(U), BJP, and smaller allies is critical to retaining power. The coalition’s cohesion, often tested by personality clashes and regional ambitions, remains a key factor in the upcoming election.
On the Opposition side, the Mahagathbandhan — comprising RJD, Congress, and Left parties — faces internal challenges of its own. The recall of RJD symbols indicates last-minute adjustments that could impact the morale of local cadres and independent supporters.
Political observers note that both alliances are walking a tightrope between balancing caste equations, regional aspirations, and leadership egos — a combination that has historically shaped Bihar’s politics.
Election Schedule and Next Steps
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced that Bihar will vote in two phases — 121 constituencies on November 6 and 122 constituencies on November 11. The counting of votes will take place on November 14, and the results will determine whether Chief Minister Nitish Kumar continues his long-standing tenure or if Tejashwi Yadav can script a comeback for the RJD-led coalition.
With nominations closing soon, both alliances are racing against time to release final candidate lists. Analysts say that the next 48 hours will be crucial in shaping the campaign momentum for the poll-bound state.
Final Thoughts from TheTrendingPeople.com
As Bihar gears up for one of the most closely watched state elections in recent years, both the NDA and Mahagathbandhan appear locked in internal negotiations and public optics. While leaders assure stability, visible cracks — from protests to symbol recalls — point to the underlying power struggles that could influence the poll’s outcome.
With the nomination deadline nearing and candidates anxious for clarity, Bihar’s political theatre is once again a reflection of its dynamic, unpredictable democracy. The coming days will reveal whether these alliances can hold their ground or buckle under internal dissent as the state moves toward the November 2025 Assembly elections.