In the political landscape of Bihar, the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has officially announced its seat-sharing formula for the upcoming Assembly elections. The coalition has decided that both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)) will contest an equal number of seats. This development sets the stage for a closely watched electoral contest in the state.
Meanwhile, the opposition alliance, known as the ‘Mahagathbandhan’, is also making strides in finalizing its own strategy. Sources indicate that the alliance, which includes prominent parties like the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Indian National Congress, is in the final stages of seat-sharing negotiations. It is anticipated that the alliance will reveal its candidates and present a joint manifesto to the public within the next few days.
Recent reports suggest that crucial talks between the RJD and the Congress are actively underway. Key leaders, including RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav and his son Tejashwi Yadav, are reportedly in Delhi to engage in discussions with Congress leadership. Jairam Ramesh, a senior general secretary of the Congress, commented on the ongoing discussions, stating that party president Mallikarjun Kharge has been in continuous communication with all coalition partners in Bihar. He highlighted that final deliberations are focused on identifying strong candidates for specific seats where the Congress and allied parties believe they have a significant advantage.
Ramesh further added, “The Congress president has been speaking to all the coalition partners in Bihar, and the final discussion is on for deciding candidates in a few seats where the Congress and some other parties feel they are strong. The Congress president is talking to all political leaders for the last two days in Bihar.” He also mentioned that direct talks between the RJD and Congress leadership are progressing, with a potential meeting by Monday to resolve remaining issues.
The alliance is also working to accommodate new partners, which adds another layer to the seat-sharing deliberations. Ramesh expressed optimism, stating, “We have to adjust some new partners in the ‘Mahagathbandhan’, and we have to adjust them too in seat-sharing. In the next two to three days, we expect all the seats to be finalised and declared.” Early indications suggest that the Congress party is likely to be allocated between 50 and 70 seats, a number comparable to their previous election contests in Bihar.