The Congress and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)-led Mahagathbandhan is set to hold a crucial meeting in Delhi on Monday to finalize its seat-sharing arrangement for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections. Key leaders, including RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav, his son Tejashwi Yadav, and smaller alliance partners, will meet the Congress leadership to discuss the allocation of seats.
The meeting comes amid escalating pressure on the opposition bloc to reach a consensus, particularly after the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) formally announced its own seat-sharing formula. This development complicates the dynamics in Bihar’s political landscape as the elections draw nearer.
Earlier on Sunday, Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) chief Mukesh Sahni, an ally within the Mahagathbandhan, expressed concern about the coalition’s internal differences. “Mahagathbandhan has become a bit unwell. We are going to Delhi, and all the doctors are in Delhi, so better treatment will happen there. We will return to Patna after getting healthy,” Sahni stated humorously, underscoring his worries while maintaining a light-hearted tone.
Despite Sahni’s candid remarks, Bihar Congress leader Shakeel Ahmad Khan sought to downplay the rift. He emphasized the coalition’s unity, stating, “A meeting will be held, and everything will be finalized. The Mahagathbandhan is united, and the current corrupt government is certain to go.” Khan’s statements highlight the coalition’s efforts to project strength and coherence as the elections approach.
Meanwhile, the NDA’s seat-sharing pact has revealed its strategy, with Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) and the BJP both contesting 101 seats each. Union Minister Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) has been allocated 29 seats, while the Hindustani Awam Party (Secular) led by Jitan Ram Manjhi and the Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) will contest six seats each.
The elections for the 243-member Bihar Legislative Assembly will occur in two phases — on November 6 and November 11, with the counting of votes scheduled for November 14. The Bihar polls will undoubtedly shape the state’s political future, marking a decisive moment for both the Mahagathbandhan and NDA alliances.
