Fixing the target of winning seats in a particular election that has so far been the brand equity of the BJP has been taken up by Nitish Kumar for Bihar election when he asked party workers to ensure 200 seats for the NDA in the forthcoming Assembly polls.

The BJP has been cajoling Nitish Kumar from very long with Amit Shah announcing his name as NDA CM candidate for Bihar way in advance, PM Narendra Modi wishing him his birthday in a special manner and many other such incidences. This is reciprocated by Nitish for his support to the CAA and going to the extent of expelling Prashant Kishor and Pavan Verma from the party opposing the same.

Political analyst feel that both the BJP and JD(U) don’t have any other option but to remain glued together as any harakiri at this point of time may harm the alliance irreparably but the way Chirag Paswan has become vocal, the alliance will have to either contain or placate him.

Nitish had contested the last election with the RJD but they had split in the midway. The JD (U) and the BJP together have 124 seats in the 243-member Assembly. The JD(U) has 70 members while the BJP has 54 MLAs in the outgoing assembly.

The NDA will have to face Mahagathbandhan that includes the RJD, the Congress, HUM and Rashtriya Lok Samata Party.