Patna: Political turbulence has once again gripped Bihar’s ruling alliance as Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressed strong displeasure over the NDA’s seat-sharing arrangement ahead of the upcoming elections. Despite an apparent agreement between coalition partners, the Janata Dal (United) chief has reportedly rejected nine seats, calling them “unacceptable.”
According to sources, Nitish Kumar had earlier finalized 103 seats for his party, but the final NDA distribution allotted only 101 seats to the JDU. Out of these, nine constituencies have become a major flashpoint, as they were previously offered to Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) — a move that has upset the JDU leadership. Nitish insists that his party should retain its traditional stronghold constituencies, where JDU has a solid voter base.
Late-Night Meeting Fails to Break Deadlock
Following the dispute, a marathon meeting took place late Monday night at the residence of JDU’s acting national president Sanjay Jha, where senior leaders from both JDU and BJP were present. Sources indicate that Nitish Kumar has directed his party leaders to initiate direct talks with the BJP’s central leadership to resolve the issue.
Sonbarsa Seat Sparks Fresh Tension
The Sonbarsa constituency has become a symbol of the ongoing conflict. Although the seat was initially listed under LJP (Ram Vilas) in the NDA’s shared list, JDU has fielded Minister Ratnesh Sada once again from the same seat. Nitish Kumar himself handed over the party symbol to Sada on Monday, making it clear that JDU will not back down from its decisions. Sada is expected to file his nomination on Tuesday.
NDA Joint Press Conference Postponed
Nitish Kumar’s strong opposition has already started showing its impact. The NDA’s joint press conference, which was scheduled for Monday, had to be postponed at the last moment, fueling further speculation about cracks within the alliance.
Amit Shah’s Visit May Calm Political Storm
In an attempt to contain the rift, Union Home Minister Amit Shah is expected to visit Patna soon to personally intervene and hold talks with Nitish Kumar. Sources claim Shah might arrive on Tuesday, though no official confirmation has been made yet. The BJP leadership hopes his visit will restore unity and clarity within the NDA’s Bihar camp.
However, Nitish Kumar’s uncompromising stance suggests that this time, he is in no mood to compromise over his party’s seat allocation. All eyes are now on Amit Shah’s Patna visit, which could decide the future course of the NDA alliance in Bihar politics.
Author: BiharlocalDesk
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