Bihar Elections 2025: Mahua Seat Sparks NDA Tussle Between Chirag, Kushwaha, and JDU

As nominations for the Bihar Assembly elections continue, a significant political upheaval has emerged within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) over seat-sharing. The Mahua assembly constituency, located in the Vaishali district, has become a flashpoint, initially contested between Chirag Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) and Upendra Kushwaha's Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM). Adding to the complexity, the Janata Dal (United) (JDU) has now also staked its claim on this crucial seat, while

Upendra Kushwaha's Discontent and JDU's Entry

The Mahua seat was initially allocated to Chirag Paswan as part of the NDA's seat-sharing arrangement. However, Upendra Kushwaha is reportedly adamant about contesting from this seat, possibly for his son, and has refused to back down. He even prevented his candidate from filing nominations and subsequently met. Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi to discuss the matter. Sources indicate that Chirag Paswan has also been asked to put his nomination plans for Mahua on hold. Meanwhile, the JDU has entered the fray, with supporters of former JDU candidate Asma Parveen protesting outside the Chief Minister's residence, asserting that Mahua belongs to the JDU.

Why the Mahua Seat is So Crucial

The Mahua assembly constituency holds immense strategic importance, while it's a high-profile seat in Vaishali district, characterized by a dominant population of Yadav, Muslim, and Kushwaha voters. The Yadav and Muslim communities alone constitute about 35% of the electorate, traditionally considered core voters for the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Lalu family. Notably, Tej Pratap Yadav, elder son of RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, won this seat in the 2015 assembly elections, while this demographic composition and historical significance explain why all three NDA allies are vying for control, presenting a significant challenge for the BJP in resolving the internal dispute.