The Mahagathbandhan, the grand alliance of opposition parties in Bihar, is facing turbulence ahead of the upcoming elections, primarily due to disagreements between its two major constituents, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Indian National Congress. A significant point of contention is the Kutumba seat, a constituency reserved for Scheduled Castes, where both parties have expressed their intent to field candidates.
The Congress party has already declared its Bihar unit president, Rajesh Ram, as its candidate for the Kutumba seat. However, the RJD is reportedly considering fielding Suresh Paswan, its state vice-president, from the same constituency. This overlap has created a situation of "friendly fight," where both parties will contest against each other, potentially dividing the Mahagathbandhan's vote share and benefiting the opposing National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
The clash over the Kutumba seat is not an isolated incident. Reports suggest that the RJD and Congress are at odds in over a dozen constituencies, with both parties fielding candidates against each other in places like Vaishali, Lalganj, Kahalgaon and Biharsharif. In Vaishali, the Congress has nominated Sanjeev Singh, while the RJD has put up Abhay Kushwaha. Similarly, in Lalganj, the Congress has fielded Aditya Raj, while the RJD has nominated Shivani Singh, daughter of former MLA Munna Shukla.
The failure to finalize a seat-sharing agreement, even as the deadline for nominations for the first phase has passed, highlights the deep-seated issues within the Mahagathbandhan. Sources suggest that the RJD is aiming to contest 130-135 seats, while the Congress is likely to get around 60 seats. The Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) is expected to contest around 15 seats, and the Left parties will get 28-29 seats.
The lack of coordination has led to accusations of "sabotage" and "putting tickets up for sale". Some within the Congress party allege that RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav is deliberately trying to undermine the alliance by reducing the Congress's seat count and fielding RJD candidates in constituencies traditionally held by the Congress. A senior Congress leader claimed that Yadav wanted to reduce Congress's seat count by 15-20, offering only 50-55 seats. Yadav also allegedly proposed swapping 3-4 seats with the Left, a proposal that the Congress rejected. The RJD, on the other hand, has asserted that the Congress needs to understand that the RJD primarily contests elections in Bihar and won't demand seats in other states where the Congress is stronger.
The ongoing conflict has raised concerns about the Mahagathbandhan's ability to present a united front against the NDA. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to launch the NDA campaign, with BJP leaders asserting that "there is no such thing as Mahagathbandhan in Bihar". With the nomination deadline approaching and the seat-sharing deal still unresolved, the Mahagathbandhan faces a significant challenge in maintaining its cohesion and effectively contesting the upcoming Bihar elections.
Despite the tensions, some leaders from both parties have downplayed the disagreements, stating that such issues are common in coalitions and will eventually be resolved. However, the overlapping nominations and the accusations of sabotage suggest that the road ahead for the Mahagathbandhan will be fraught with challenges. The outcome of the seat-sharing negotiations and the ability of the RJD and Congress to work together will be crucial in determining the Mahagathbandhan's prospects in the Bihar elections.
