Overview

• After unveiling headline numbers, the NDA scrapped a joint press conference as partners failed to agree on constituency-wise allocations despite late-night talks at JD(U) MP Sanjay Jha’s residence.
• Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) is resisting Chirag Paswan’s claims on seats such as Sonbarsa and Rajgir; JD(U) handed the Sonbarsa symbol to minister Ratnesh Sada while leaders prepared for an emergency huddle.
• Internal strain flared in JD(U) with MLA Gopal Mandal staging a dharna outside the chief minister’s residence and Bhagalpur MP Ajay Kumar Mandal resigning over the ticket-selection process.
• Smaller NDA allies voiced anger over their shares as Upendra Kushwaha and Jitan Ram Manjhi protested being allotted six seats each, and UP ally SBSP said it will contest 153 seats in Bihar, signaling a vote-split threat.
• Opposition negotiations remain stuck with Congress pressing for about 61–63 seats and no agreement with the RJD; Tejashwi Yadav met Congress leaders as Lalu Prasad Yadav’s hastily issued RJD symbols were later withdrawn, while Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj released a second list of 65 candidates.