In the run-up to the Bihar Assembly elections, the INDIA bloc had launched extensive campaigning to corner the NDA. The ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ had showcased exemplary unity and the unwavering spirit of the alliance. However, the opposition alliance now appears to have lost momentum.
While the NDA is firmly in the field and has launched its campaign with full force, the INDIA bloc has failed to finalise a formal seat-sharing agreement, even after the nomination process concluded.
With nominations now closed, it is clear that the RJD is contesting the highest number of seats within the alliance, fielding candidates on 143 constituencies. The Congress is contesting 59 seats, following the withdrawal of its candidate from Lalganj. In the 2020 elections, the RJD had contested 144 seats and Congress 70.
In addition, Mukesh Sahani’s VIP is contesting 15 seats, CPI(ML) 20 seats, CPI 9 seats, and CPM 4 seats.
Candidates from the INDIA bloc are competing against each other in several constituencies. It’s RJD vs. Congress in Sikandra, Kahalgaon, Sultanganj, and Narkatiaganj, while Congress is pitted against CPI in Rajapakar, Kargahar, and Bihar Sharif.
Lalganj was also among these conflicting seats. However, Congress candidate Aditya Kumar Raja later withdrew his nomination. RJD’s Shivani Shukla will now contest from Lalganj on behalf of the alliance. In return, the RJD did not field a candidate in Kutumba, the constituency held by Congress state president Rajesh Ram.
Congress and RJD leaders had earlier claimed that misunderstandings over seat-sharing would be resolved before the final date for nomination withdrawal. However, uncertainty looms large, as the deadline for the first phase has already passed. The deadline for withdrawal for the second phase is 23 October.
The picture that has emerged after the nomination process reveals that multiple candidates from the INDIA bloc are competing against each other, creating confusion among party workers and local leadership on the ground.
If withdrawals are not made before the final deadline, this so-called “friendly fight” may lead to a split in votes, potentially handing a clear advantage to the NDA.
Taking a dig at the INDIA bloc, LJP (Ram Vilas) president Chirag Paswan remarked, “There is nothing called a ‘friendly fight’. Either you are friends or you are fighting against each other. If you are contesting polls against each other and targeting leaders, how can you expect this won’t have an impact in other seats?”