Bihar Election 2025: In Historic First, BJP Leaves Rohtas District Entirely To NDA Allies—Workers Grapple With Discontent

The political climate in Bihar has reached fever pitch as the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) finalizes seat-sharing for the 2025 assembly elections. In a move never seen since the founding of the Bharatiya Janata Party, the organization will not contest a single seat in Rohtas district, a BJP stronghold with seven key assembly constituencies.

Strategic Seat Allocation to Allies

Under the NDA pact, all seven Rohtas seats have been allotted to coalition partners—JDU, Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM), and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas). The Karakat, Nokha, and Karghar seats have gone to JDU, Sasaram and Dinara to RLM, while Chenari (SC) and Dehri have been reserved for LJP (Ram Vilas). In the previous 2020 elections, BJP contested two seats in the district but failed to secure a victory, influencing this year’s strategy to cede all Rohtas seats to allies.

Worker Disappointment and Internal Reactions

This decision has sparked significant disappointment and deep unrest among local BJP workers and leaders, especially as Rohtas encompasses long-term party stalwarts and a proud record of repeated electoral wins in Sasaram and Nokha. For the first time since its establishment, BJP’s lotus symbol will not appear on Rohtas district’s EVMs, fueling frustration and silence among ground-level activists. Former BJP district president Pramod Singh echoed worker sentiments, stating, “I have been with the party 35 years, but never seen such a decision. The government holds power at both state and national levels—yet this has happened.” Many now plan grassroots meetings to address the perceived loss of identity and recognition.

Past Legacy and Prominent Figures

Rohtas has historically produced several major BJP figures, including former state president Gopal Narayan Singh, state legislative council chairperson Awadhesh Narayan Singh, and senior legislators Ramashwar Chaurasiya and Jawahar Prasad, who have led winning campaigns and influenced party direction. Despite this, the district received no seats, stoking controversy among supporters and questions about the future strength of local BJP organization.

Sasaram and Nokha—Former BJP Bastions

Sasaram and Nokha once symbolized BJP’s dominance in the region, buoyed by repeated wins from party leaders. That BJP will be entirely absent from the ballot—the “lotus missing from EVMs”—has led workers to worry about the power of local representation and the role of local party networks in the coming election cycle.

Aftermath: Calm Before a Storm?

With silence spreading among local ranks—a “lull before the storm”—senior observers warn this decision has injured the confidence of grassroot workers in one of the state’s most politically potent districts. The days to come may see informal meetings, introspection, and possible dissent as members absorb the impact of a strategy that prioritizes coalition arithmetic over traditional strongholds.