Bihar Assembly elections LIVE: BJP leaders meet Kushwaha amid speculations of rift in NDA

2 hours ago 9

RLM Chief Upendra Kushwaha is reportedly angry over giving the Mahua Assembly seat to the LJP(R) led by Union Minister Chirag Paswan

Updated - October 15, 2025 07:59 am IST

In this image posted on Sept. 30, 2025, Union Home Minister Amit Shah with Rashtriya Lok Samta Party MP Upendra Kushwaha during a meeting. Image used for representative purpose only. | Photo Credit: PTI

Two days after the ruling National Democratic Alliance declared its seat-sharing arrangement, cracks have begun to show within the Janata Dal (United) party. On Tuesday (October 14, 2025), party MP Ajay Kumar Mandal offered to resign, alleging that party leadership had denied him access to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

Meanwhile, senior BJP leaders including Samrat Choudhary, Nityanand Rai, Nitin Nabin and others met RLM Chief Upendra Kushwaha at his Patna residence on Tuesday night after reports of him being displeased with seat-sharing arrangement. After a closed-door meeting, Mr. Kushwaha expressed his disappointment and said,” This time nothing is well in NDA.”

With just three days remaining to the deadline for filing nominations for the first phase of elections to the Bihar Assembly, the Mahagatbandhan is yet to declare division of seats among its allies. Amidst the confusion, each party is finalising its list of candidates and intense negotiations are on between the allies to swap seats.

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October 15, 2025 07:59
Bulk SMSes, voice messages during ‘silence period’ on ECI radar
As Bihar prepares for phase one of Assembly polls on November 6, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has warned that bulk SMSes and audio messages during the 48-hour ‘silence period’ which starts before the conclusion of voting, is prohibited.
In a note issued on October 9 outlining campaigning restrictions, the poll authority said, political advertisements on any election matter in TV, cable networks, radio, cinema halls, use of bulk SMS/voice messages, audio visual displays in any polling area during the period of 48 hours ending with the hour fixed for the conclusion of the poll for any election in the polling area is prohibited.
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Bihar Assembly polls: Bulk SMSes, voice messages during ‘silence period’ on ECI radar
Election Commission of India prohibits bulk SMSes and audio messages during silence period before Bihar Assembly polls.
October 15, 2025 07:58
BJP leaders meet Kushwaha amid speculations of rift in NDA
Last night, senior BJP leaders including Samrat Choudhary, Nityanand Rai, Nitin Nabin and others met RLM Chief Upendra Kushwaha at his Patna residence after they learnt that Mr. Kushwaha was displeased with the seat sharing arrangements. After a closed- door meeting, no one spoke to the media when they left. At 12:30 a.m., Mr. Kushwaha expressed his disappointment and said,” This time nothing is well in NDA.”
Sources said that Mr. Kushwaha is reportedly angry over giving the Mahua Assembly seat to the LJP(R) led by Union Minister Chirag Paswan.
-Amit Bhelari