The CPI(ML) Liberation, a key member of Bihar’s Grand Alliance, has called on the Congress party to take a more ‘realistic’ approach in the current seat-sharing negotiations for the upcoming assembly elections. The party’s general secretary, Dipankar Bhattacharya, highlighted lessons from the 2020 polls, suggesting the Congress ‘bit off more than it could chew’ then.
Bhattacharya also urged the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), the largest partner in the opposition ‘Mahagathbandhan’ (Grand Alliance), to be more accommodating towards smaller allies. This flexibility is crucial, he noted, as the INDIA bloc in Bihar is expected to welcome new members.
His party, CPI(ML) Liberation, aims to contest at least 40 of the 243 assembly seats, a significant increase from the 19 seats it fought in the last election. Bhattacharya explicitly stated that there is ‘no ambiguity’ regarding RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav being the coalition’s chief ministerial candidate if the Grand Alliance forms the government.
“Discussions are ongoing, though they faced slight delays due to the agitation over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), which demanded considerable time and effort. Nevertheless, I am optimistic that we will have a clearer picture by the end of this month,” Bhattacharya shared in a recent interview.
Addressing reports of some Congress leaders demanding around 70 seats after their ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’, Bhattacharya was direct: “Last time, they contested 70 seats but only secured 19 wins.” He contrasted this with the 2015 elections, where the RJD-JD(U)-Congress alliance (which then excluded the Left) had a better showing.
“In 2015, Congress contested 40 seats and won 27, demonstrating a very strong strike rate. However, in 2020, contesting 70 seats proved to be overambitious. Therefore, I believe a balanced approach, perhaps contesting fewer seats but aiming for more victories, would benefit both the Congress and the broader INDIA bloc,” he advised, advocating for realism.
During the 2020 elections, the Grand Alliance, which included the RJD, Congress, and Left parties, mounted a strong challenge but failed to secure a majority. Political analysts attributed this shortfall largely to the Congress party’s underwhelming performance.
In those elections, the RJD emerged as the single-largest party, winning 75 out of the 144 seats it contested, while the Congress secured only 19. The CPI(ML) Liberation proved to be a surprise success, winning 12 of the 19 seats it contested, with the CPI and CPI(M) each winning two.
Bhattacharya further emphasized that the RJD, as the leading partner, along with the Congress, must be adaptable and open to compromise. “The CPI(ML) Liberation was underrepresented last time, and we seek fair representation this time. With new allies joining, both RJD and Congress will need to contest fewer seats than in 2020, requiring them to be more accommodative,” he explained.
The Grand Alliance currently comprises six parties: RJD, Congress, CPI(ML) Liberation, CPI, CPI(M), and Mukesh Sahni’s Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP). The Lok Janshakti Party (Paras faction) and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) are also expected to join before the polls later this year.
“We must make room for additional partners. While I’m unsure if the JMM will contest as a distinct party or field individual candidates, the main point is that our alliance has expanded, and our seat-sharing strategy must reflect this growth,” he added.
Regarding the Mahagathbandhan’s chief ministerial nominee, he clarified: “Although there might not be a formal announcement, the RJD is the largest party within the INDIA bloc, making the Leader of the Opposition, Tejashwi Yadav, the obvious chief ministerial face. There’s no uncertainty about this.”
“The only reason a formal announcement hasn’t been made is likely due to the belief that it’s best to secure a majority first, then address such matters,” he elaborated.
When asked about the possibility of multiple deputy chief ministers, a subtle demand from some allies, Bhattacharya stated, “These discussions can wait until we have a clearer outcome after the elections.” He reiterated CPI(ML) Liberation’s aspiration to contest more seats across a wider range of districts this time.
“Last time, we contested only 19 seats but won 12. More importantly, we only contested in 12 of Bihar’s 38 districts. We aim to contest in more districts and on more seats, as our previous presence notably boosted the coalition’s performance in those areas,” he affirmed.
Bhattacharya underscored the INDIA bloc’s determination to avoid a repeat of the ‘near-miss’ scenario of 2020.
“Last time, the INDIA bloc put up a strong fight but fell short. We hope for a decisive mandate this time, as a narrow majority could make sustaining the government challenging given the ‘dirty games’ played by the BJP,” he warned.
In the 2020 elections, the BJP secured 74 seats, while its then-ally Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) won 43. The VIP, then part of the NDA, and Hindustani Awam Morcha each won four seats.
Commenting on the ruling NDA’s potential strategy, he dismissed it, saying, “They are all pretending that Nitish Kumar is their chosen CM candidate until 2030, but the reality is there’s significant anti-incumbency sentiment and anger against the NDA government in Bihar.”