With the Bihar assembly elections approaching, the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) faces a deadlock in seat-sharing negotiations. The Congress and RJD are at odds, and the demands of the Left parties, including the CPI and CPI(M), along with the Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party, have added complexity to the situation. The Left parties are urging for a quick resolution to avoid harming the alliance. The CPI and CPI(M) have demanded 24 and 11 seats respectively, totaling 35 seats. The most successful Left party, CPI-ML-Liberation, has already claimed 40 seats, presenting a list to the alliance coordinator, Tejashwi Prasad Yadav. The demands of various parties, including the CPI-ML-Liberation, CPI, and CPI(M), could lead to a combined demand of up to 75 seats. The Grand Alliance, comprising the RJD, Congress, and other Left parties, narrowly missed a majority in the previous election, securing 110 out of 243 seats.
Adding to the tension, Mukesh Sahani’s Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) is also demanding more seats and a Deputy CM position, further complicating the seat distribution. The VIP is reportedly seeking to expand its electoral footprint within the alliance. Sources suggest that the Congress and RJD are willing to concede around a dozen seats to accommodate the VIP.
The Grand Alliance is carefully strategizing the seat distribution, with partners engaged in extensive discussions to assess which parties can regain lost ground. Close scrutiny is being given to constituencies where the alliance lost previously, considering both the margin of defeat and caste equations. The alliance is working on candidate selection, focusing on individuals who can better address ground realities. Furthermore, the Congress will increase OBC representation, and the number of Muslim candidates is also expected to rise.