As Bihar gears up for the upcoming elections, all eyes are on the seat-sharing negotiations within the INDIA bloc, with speculation mounting that internal disagreements are causing delays in the alliance's announcement. While the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) seems to be nearing finalization of its seat allocations, the INDIA bloc is facing hurdles as key leaders engage in intense discussions to resolve contentious issues.

Adding to the uncertainty, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) president Lalu Prasad Yadav, along with his son and political heir Tejashwi Yadav, traveled to Delhi on Sunday, October 12, 2025. While Lalu Prasad and his wife Rabri Devi remained silent when approached by reporters, Tejashwi Yadav maintained that "all is well". However, sources suggest that the RJD's "first family" may have sought intervention from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, a move that reportedly upset the Congress unit in Bihar.

Reports indicate that the RJD and Congress are currently at odds over five specific seats: Baisi, Bahadurganj, Raniganj, Kahalgaon, and Saharsa. These seats have become a major sticking point in the negotiations, delaying the finalization of the seat-sharing agreement. In the 2020 elections, Congress contested Kahalgaon and Bahadurpur, while RJD fought in Saharsa, Baisi, and Raniganj, but neither party managed to win any of these seats.

The Congress party has expressed growing impatience with the delays in seat sharing within the Mahagathbandhan, hinting at the possibility of contesting the Bihar Assembly polls independently. Some Congress leaders feel the party needs to emerge from the political shadow of the RJD and assert its own strength in the state. Senior Congress leader Pawan Khera, however, stated on Sunday that there are no issues with seat sharing in Bihar and that Mahagathbandhan partners will contest the elections together. He acknowledged that every party has the right to express its views.

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) has also urged the INDIA bloc to finalize seat sharing for the Bihar polls by October 14, or the party will make its own decision. The JMM is seeking to contest at least 12 assembly seats as part of the INDIA bloc.

Meanwhile, AIMIM, which has been excluded from the INDIA bloc in Bihar, announced plans to contest approximately 100 seats in the upcoming elections, a significant increase from the previous elections. The party aims to establish a "third alternative" in Bihar's political landscape.

As the seat-sharing talks continue, the political atmosphere in Bihar remains charged. The outcome of these negotiations will be crucial in shaping the alliances and determining the key players in the upcoming elections.