Rahul Gandhi, Kharge step in to resolve RJD-Congress seat-sharing impasse in Bihar
Patna: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and party president Mallikarjun Kharge personally intervened on Thursday to defuse the seat-sharing standoff with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), media reports said.
The two leaders spoke directly with RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav over the phone in a bid to end the stalemate. However, the outcome of their conversation remains unknown, according to an India Today report.
With nominations for the first phase of the Bihar assembly polls already underway and the filing deadline fast approaching, the deadlock between the two Mahagathbandhan partners — the RJD and Congress — has raised questions over the cohesion of the grand alliance.
Sources told India Today that the main differences revolve around the number of seats allocated to Congress and a few contentious constituencies both sides want to claim.
Initially, the RJD had offered 52 seats to the Congress, which rejected the proposal and demanded at least 60.
The disagreement led to a temporary halt in state-level negotiations, shifting the matter to the central leadership of both parties.
The RJD has reportedly agreed to concede 61 seats to the Congress but remains reluctant to give up certain strongholds.
It has been adamant about retaining key constituencies such as Kahalgaon, Narkatiyaganj, and Vasaliganj.
Other seats like Chainpur and Bachwara were also discussed but are said to be less problematic.
The Congress had earlier adopted a tough stance, buoyed by the response to Rahul Gandhi’s Vote Adhikar Yatra, which it believed improved the party’s standing in Bihar. However, the party later appeared to soften its position.
Unconfirmed reports suggest the Congress may eventually settle for 61 seats — nine fewer than the 70 it contested in 2020, when it won only 19.
The RJD is expected to retain the larger share of constituencies but may still contest fewer than last time, when 75 of its 144 candidates were successful.
Left allies such as the CPI(ML) Liberation, CPI(M), and CPI, along with former minister Mukesh Sahani, are likely to share the remainder of the 243 seats.
Meanwhile, the Congress released its first list of candidates on Wednesday night — even before a formal deal was struck with the RJD.
The announcement came just hours after RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav filed his nomination from the Raghopur constituency.
Amid signs of strain within the Mahagathbandhan, reports surfaced that Lalu Prasad Yadav distributed party symbols to some RJD candidates at Rabri Devi’s residence.
However, sources said the symbols were later withdrawn once Tejashwi Yadav returned to Patna after meeting Rahul Gandhi in Delhi.
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