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New Delhi: The dates for the Bihar Assembly elections have been announced, but seat-sharing between the NDA and Grand Alliance constituents remains in limbo. Within the NDA, Chirag Paswan and Jitan Ram Manjhi have stalled seat-sharing. Meanwhile, Prashant Kishore’s Jan Suraj Party has released its first list of 51 candidates.

The JDU is reportedly also upset with Lok Janshakti Party chief Chirag Paswan’s demands. The JDU has issued a clear message, stating that Chirag should deal with them himself. This seat-sharing issue indicates a rift within the NDA. No official announcement has been made regarding seat-sharing within the NDA yet.

Seat-sharing escalates controversy within the NDA.

According to reports from NDA sources, the Lok Janshakti Party chief is unwilling to concede. The JDU is not in the mood to give Chirag Paswan its sitting seats. These include Mahnar, Matihani, and Chakai. Additionally, JDU state president Umesh Kushwaha’s seat is Mahnar, which Chirag Paswan covets, but the party is unwilling to relinquish it.

Chirag’s party won the Matihani seat in 2020, but the MLA later joined the JDU. Now, the JDU wants to retain it. There also appears to be no consensus between the JDU and LJP on the Chakai assembly seat. Independent MLA Sumit Singh is a minister and a JDU supporter.

The BJP and Manjhi are also adamant about seats.

The BJP is also unwilling to give its sitting seat, Govindganj, to Chirag. This seat is held by the current BJP MLA. Chirag Paswan wants it for his party’s Bihar state president, Raju Tiwari.

On the other hand, Manjhi’s party, HAM, is also unwilling to give its sitting seat, Sikandra, to Chirag.

Chirag Paswan is demanding seats where his candidates can win, but both JDU and the BJP are unwilling to give up their seats. Furthermore, regarding this ongoing tussle within the NDA, JDU sources stated that media reports of seat agreements are not entirely accurate.

Talks are currently incomplete and will now take place in Delhi. JDU leaders have also stated that they will not publicly state their demands. The party has clarified that the future strategy will be decided only after discussions with the BJP leadership.