RJD-Congress Seat-Sharing: Hectic political developments in poll-bound Bihar as parties struggle to finalise seats

With the last minute hiccups in seat sharing formula finalisation between two contesting blocs ruling NDA and Opposition mahagthbandhan (grand alliance) in poll-bound Bihar are yet to be over, some of the Opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leaders who, earlier, were given party symbols to file nomination papers have been asked to return it after party leader Tejashwi Yadav returned back to Patna from Delhi late night on October 13.

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In the ruling NDA block names of party candidates to contest the poll are yet to be announced after seat finalisation on October 12. Some of the JD(U) leaders like Bijendra Prasad Yadav, several times party MLA from Supaul constituency and minister in the Chief Minister Nitish Kumar cabinet for Energy, Planning and Development, filed his nomination papers from Supaul on Tuesday (October 14, 2025). Former party MLA and strongman of Mokama, Anant Singh, who is popularly known in his area as Chhote Sarkar (smaller government), too has headed to file his nomination papers from the constituency as a JD(U) candidate.

But, JD(U) MLA from Gopalpur in Bhagalpur district, Gopal Mandal alias Narendra Kumar Niraj, sat on a dharna (sit-in) outside Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s official residence 1, Anne Marg in Patna, amid rumours that he was denied a party ticket this time from his constituency. The security personnel, later, removed Mr. Mandal who is also known as strongman of his area, from the spot.

State JD(U) president Umesh Kushwaha too has filed his nomination papers from Manhar constituency in Vaishali district.

Mr. Mandal has been a staunch supporter of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who often hits headlines for wrong reasons and his controversial remarks.

Meanwhile, some of the Opposition RJD leaders were seen making an entry into 10, Circular Road residence of former Chief Minister Rabri Devi, where her younger son and political heir Tejashwi Yadav spends most of the time, to return their party symbols earlier given to them to file their nomination papers to contest the upcoming poll. The party sources told The Hindu that as many as seven leaders were given party symbols, earlier, to file nomination papers and contest the poll.

The Opposition mahagathbandhan ally Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist), though, has given party symbol to as many as seven party candidates to file their nomination papers and some of the party leaders have started filing their nominations.

Amid buzz over delay in releasing list of names of party candidates for some hitch and name of their constituencies yet to be announced by the NDA, leaders of all allies like Chirag Paswan of Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), Jitan Ram Manjhi from Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular), Upendra Kushwaha of Rashtriya Lok Morcha, Samrat Choudhary from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday (October 14, 2025) posted on social media that “all is going well in NDA in a cordial atmosphere”.

Earlier, the working president of the ruling party JD(U) too told media persons that “all is going well in NDA and someone is plotting against spreading such rumours…Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is happy (over seat distribution) and he is personally in touch with top NDA leaders”. Mr. Jha also affirmed that the names of candidates of NDA allies to contest the poll will also be released by Tuesday (October 14, 2025) evening.

BJP leaders too have been meeting in Patna to make a final seal on the names of party candidates, and they too affirmed that “everything will be clear in NDA by Tuesday (October 14, 2025) evening”. The party also organised a media workshop at the state party headquarters in Patna.

Meanwhile, BJP leader and Begusarai MP Giriraj Singh told reporters that “BJP should not be in feel-good state… the party workers are not looking happy to me these days”.

The two-phased Assembly elections on the 243-member Bihar Assembly are scheduled to take place on November 6 (121 constituencies) and 11 (122) and the results will be announced on November 14.