As the deadline looms for finalizing seat-sharing arrangements within Bihar's opposition Mahagathbandhan, senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has reportedly dialed Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav in a bid to break the deadlock. With nominations for the first phase of the Bihar Assembly elections already underway, time is of the essence for the alliance to present a united front.
The Mahagathbandhan, a grand alliance of opposition parties, is striving to finalize its seat-sharing strategy for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, scheduled for two phases on November 6 and 11, with vote counting on November 14. The alliance includes the RJD, Congress, and other regional parties. Negotiations have been ongoing, but "technical issues" have reportedly delayed the official announcement, according to Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) chief Mukesh Sahani.
Sources indicate that Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge have engaged with Lalu Prasad Yadav to address the sticking points in the seat distribution. The Congress party is reportedly willing to compromise on the number of seats it contests compared to the 2020 elections, aiming for a "respectable and acceptable" figure. While the party contested 70 seats in 2020, insiders suggest they are now focusing on roughly 25 "quality" seats where they have a stronger chance of winning. The Congress party's Central Election Committee (CEC) has already convened, clearing candidates for some constituencies. A second CEC meeting is scheduled for Monday, October 13, 2025.
The pressure on the Mahagathbandhan has intensified since the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) already announced its seat-sharing formula. The NDA's constituents, including the BJP and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal United (JDU), will contest 101 seats each. Other NDA allies, such as the Rashtriya Lok Morcha, Jitan Ram Manjhi's Hindustan Awam Morcha, and Chirag Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), have also been allocated seats.
Several leaders have expressed optimism about resolving the seat-sharing impasse. Before departing for Delhi, Lalu Prasad Yadav stated that seat-sharing talks were in progress and that an agreement would be reached soon. Similarly, Tejashwi Yadav affirmed his commitment to resolving all seat-sharing issues during his Delhi visit. Congress leaders have also conveyed confidence in the alliance's ability to finalize the arrangements, with some suggesting an announcement could come imminently. Krishna Allavaru, the Congress in-charge for Bihar, stated that discussions were ongoing to finalize seat allocation, with the goal of forming a stable government without causing any harm to the alliance. Manoj Kumar, another Congress leader, urged the top leadership to announce the seat-sharing arrangement as soon as possible, assuring that the leaders are holding meetings to ensure fairness to all party members.
