Amidst ongoing seat-sharing disagreements within Bihar's Mahagathbandhan, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav has declared his party's intention to contest all 243 assembly seats in the upcoming elections. This announcement, made at a rally in Kanti, Muzaffarpur, escalates the political stakes and could strain relations with alliance partners.

Yadav's statement is viewed as both a negotiation tactic and a move to energize RJD members for the high-stakes electoral battle. Addressing a large gathering, Yadav attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and highlighted the achievements of his father, Lalu Prasad Yadav, before proclaiming, "We will return. Understand this, Tejashwi will be contesting all 243 seats of Bihar". He specifically mentioned constituencies like Muzaffarpur, Bochahan, Gaighat, and Kanti, urging party workers to gear up for the polls.

The timing of Yadav's declaration is politically significant. It comes as Mahagathbandhan partners, including Congress, Left parties, VIP, JMM, and LJP (Paras faction), are engaged in tough negotiations over seat allocation, with Congress seeking a substantial share. Yadav's announcement is seen as a way to put pressure on alliance partners during these negotiations.

In the 2020 Bihar elections, the RJD contested 144 seats and won 75. Congress and other allies are reportedly seeking to contest the same or an even greater number of seats this time around. The entry of Hemant Soren's Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and the Pashupati Paras-led Lok Janshakti Party into the alliance has further complicated seat-sharing discussions. Krishna Allavaru, Congress's state in-charge, suggested that RJD should be more flexible in seat-sharing, emphasizing the need for all members to contribute by adjusting their seat shares when new parties join the alliance.

Yadav's declaration can also be interpreted as an attempt to assert himself as the natural choice for the coalition's chief ministerial post. When recently asked about the Mahagathbandhan's chief ministerial candidate, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi avoided a direct answer, further fueling this debate.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has dismissed Yadav's announcement, viewing it as a pressure tactic on the RJD's allies. The BJP believes that people will only vote in the name of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. They also accused Yadav of reminding people of past scandals, such as the fodder scam and the land-for-jobs scam and stated that he does not have the strength to contest all 243 seats alone.

Amidst the seat-sharing troubles, Tejashwi Yadav has appealed to the people of Bihar to vote in his name across all 243 constituencies. Addressing the rally in Muzaffarpur, Yadav urged voters to support him, stating, "This time, Tejashwi will contest all 243 seats… My appeal to all of you is to vote in my name. Tejashwi will work towards taking Bihar forward... All of us should work together and unseat this government".