Amit Shah in Bihar as NDA finalizes 101-101 seat split

Union Home Minister Amit Shah began a three-day visit to Bihar on October 16, meeting state leaders and addressing rallies as candidates filed nomination papers ahead of the Nov. 6 and 11 assembly elections. Shah is scheduled to stay through October 18 to hold strategy meetings with state BJP officials, boost National Democratic Alliance candidates and attend nomination events as parties complete their candidate lists for the 243-seat assembly. Vote counting is set for November 14.

Shah told supporters that the NDA will contest the polls under Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s leadership while asserting that the alliance is led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He criticized the opposition for fielding a candidate linked to a former convicted criminal and argued that the NDA’s record on development and security justified voter support. Shah also met Nitish Kumar in a meeting described by party sources as a courtesy call.

The ruling NDA has finalized a seat-sharing arrangement under which the Bharatiya Janata Party and Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal United will each contest 101 seats. The Chirag Paswan-led Lok Janshakti Party Ram Vilas has been allocated 29 seats, while the Hindustani Awam...