As Bihar heads into a high-stakes Assembly election, the seat-sharing deadlock within the Grand Alliance (Mahagathbandhan) between the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Congress remains unresolved.
RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav was in New Delhi on Monday to hold talks with the Congress leadership but could not meet senior party leaders to finalize seat distribution. Meanwhile, the Congress high command held a separate meeting with its Bihar state leaders to shortlist potential candidates and finalize the party’s internal strategy.
⚖️ Talks Still Stuck as Both Parties Push for More Seats
The Congress is reportedly seeking a larger share of seats within the alliance, while the RJD — the dominant partner — is reluctant to concede beyond a limited number.
The Congress Central Election Committee (CEC) is scheduled to meet in New Delhi today to review candidate recommendations and further discuss seat allocations.
After returning to Patna, RJD president Lalu Prasad Yadav began distributing the party’s election symbols to candidates in constituencies already finalized by the party. Among those receiving the RJD symbol are:
- Bogo Singh from Matihani
- Sanjeev Singh from Parbatta
- Deepu Yadav from Sandesh constituency
Left allies CPI(ML) and CPM, key partners within the Grand Alliance, have also cleared their candidate lists and are expected to file nominations soon.
🏛️ NDA Also Faces Internal Strain Over Seat Distribution
In the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) camp, the situation isn’t much smoother.
Although the BJP and JD(U) have officially decided to contest 101 seats each, tensions have surfaced due to the Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) led by Upendra Kushwaha expressing dissatisfaction with its seat allotment.
The joint NDA announcement of candidates, scheduled for Monday, had to be postponed as negotiations continued. However, both BJP and JD(U) have begun allocating symbols to their approved candidates independently.
🔥 High-Profile Campaign Push Begins
The NDA is now focusing on a show of unity during the nomination process.
Senior BJP leader and Union Home Minister is set to visit Patna from October 16 for a three-day campaign tour, joined by several BJP Chief Ministers and Union Ministers, to bolster support and coordination among NDA allies.
🗳️ The Road Ahead
With both alliances facing internal challenges, seat-sharing remains the key hurdle before nominations close. The outcome of these negotiations will likely determine electoral momentum for both the Grand Alliance and the NDA in the coming days.
RJD–Congress Seat-Sharing Stalemate Persists as Bihar Election Battle Heats Up
RJD and Congress remain locked in a seat-sharing deadlock ahead of Bihar Assembly elections, even as NDA faces internal rifts over candidate distribution.
