Amid ongoing seat-sharing negotiations for the Bihar Assembly elections, key players in the Mahagathbandhan alliance, including the Congress and the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP), have intensified their positions. The dynamics have shifted further with the anticipated inclusion of the Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party (RLJP), led by Pashupati Kumar Paras, and the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), headed by Hemant Soren, complicating discussions.
The Congress, buoyed by the response to Rahul Gandhi’s Voter Adhikar Yatra, is reportedly advocating for at least 70 seats-matching the number it contested in the 2020 elections, where it secured only 19 seats. Its senior partner, the RJD, had a stronger showing in 2020, winning 75 out of 144 contested seats, making it the largest party in the 243-member assembly. The NDA formed the government by clinching 125 seats, compared to the Mahagathbandhan’s 110, a result attributed to the Congress’s disappointing performance.
In the wake of the Voter Adhikar Yatra, which attracted significant crowds across Bihar, the Congress is pushing for what it describes as a “respectable share,” emphasizing the need for “winnable seats.” Following RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav’s assertion of being the chief ministerial candidate for the alliance, Krishna Allavaru, a Congress leader overseeing Bihar, remarked that the people of Bihar would ultimately decide who becomes chief minister. This statement is perceived as an effort by the Congress to keep the RJD cautious.
A Bihar Congress leader highlighted that recent political engagements have revitalized their party in the state, advocating that the RJD respects the Congress as a national entity. They pointed out that the RJD should consider Congress’s three Lok Sabha seats in 2024 compared to the RJD’s four, arguing that past electoral outcomes shouldn’t be the exclusive factor in seat allocation.
Allavaru also mentioned that to incorporate the new allies effectively, all parties within the Mahagathbandhan must be prepared to relinquish some of their allotted seats, aiming for a balance of “good” and “bad” seats. With the addition of the RLJP and JMM, the Mahagathbandhan will comprise eight parties, which include existing allies like CPI(ML) Liberation, CPM, CPI, and VIP alongside the RJD and Congress.
As a crucial Mahagathbandhan meeting approaches next week to finalize seat-sharing, VIP chief Mukesh Sahani has ramped up the pressure on the RJD, seeking the prospect of a Deputy Chief Minister role. Although Sahani initially demanded 60 seats, he may be willing to compromise down to 20-25.
An RJD leader conveyed that the VIP had been allocated three Lok Sabha seats for the upcoming elections, suggesting that Sahani’s fair claim should range from 18-20 seats. The challenge lies in accommodating all allies’ requests, with each party needing to cede some of its share. The relationship between the Congress and RJD appears tense, especially with regards to negotiations about Tejashwi’s candidacy as the CM face for the alliance.
Original Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/india/ahead-of-alliance-meet-congress-pushes-for-more-seats-in-bihar-10246881/
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Publish Date: 2025-09-13 04:31:00
