The Congress and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)-led Mahagathbandhan is set to hold a crucial meeting in Delhi today to finalize its seat-sharing arrangement ahead of the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, scheduled for November 6 and 11.
RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav and his son Tejashwi Yadav, along with leaders from smaller partner groups, have congregated in Delhi to discuss the allocation of seats with Congress leadership.
The meeting arrives amid mounting pressure on the opposition bloc to secure a consensus following the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) announcement of its own seat-sharing formula.
On Sunday, Mukesh Sahni, leader of the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP), which is part of the Mahagathbandhan, candidly acknowledged the internal strife besetting the alliance. He remarked, “Mahagathbandhan has become a bit unwell. We are going to Delhi, and all the doctors are in Delhi, so better treatment will happen there. We will return to Patna after getting healthy.”
Despite Sahni’s light-hearted admission, Bihar Congress leader Shakeel Ahmad Khan sought to reassure constituents about the unity of the alliance. Khan stated, “A meeting will be held, and everything will be finalized. The Mahagathbandhan is united, and the current corrupt government is certain to go.”
As the opposition huddles in Delhi, the NDA has solidified plans for its candidates. Under the NDA’s arrangement, both Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) and the BJP are set to contest 101 seats each, while Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party has been allocated 29 seats. The Hindustani Awam Party (Secular), led by Jitan Ram Manjhi, and the Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) will contest six seats apiece.
The Bihar elections will occur for its 243-member Legislative Assembly, with voting divided into two phases on November 6 and November 11. The counting of votes will take place on November 14.