Political tensions are escalating in the lead-up to the Bihar assembly elections. Amidst the exchange of accusations between political parties, a major sticking point has emerged: seat allocation. The Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) is struggling to reach a consensus. The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) is inclined to offer fewer seats to the Congress compared to the previous assembly elections, and this stance has been made clear.
According to sources, the RJD has firmly communicated to the Congress that it will not accept any seat adjustments based on the premise of ‘winnable’ or ‘losable’ seats. The RJD is reportedly strategizing in light of the new entries of Mukesh Sahani, Pashupati Paras, and Hemant Soren, as some seats from the total 243 assembly seats will have to be allocated to these three parties, potentially impacting the Congress.
Sources also indicate that the RJD is considering increasing the number of seats for the Left parties, which have a better strike rate. As a result, both the RJD and Congress are likely to contest on fewer seats than before. The RJD has made it clear to the Congress that its seat share will be reduced. The Congress will then have to choose from the remaining seats, as the party has requested 70 seats for the upcoming elections.