Bihar polls: RJD likely to contest 135 seats, Congress 61, says report

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. File Photo | PTI

The Opposition’s Grand Alliance in Bihar is partaking in last minute parleys to iron out the electoral arithmetic with just four days left before the deadline to file nominations for the first phase. The extended meeting in Delhi on Monday evening reportedly ended in a stalemate with a visibly miffed Tejashwi Yadav, RJD leader returning back to Patna without meeting Congress top brass.

Hours before leaving for Patna, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav held closed-door talks with Congress general secretary KC Venugopal and Congress in-charge (Bihar) Krishna Allavaru. Earlier, Tejashwi held preliminary consultations with Bihar Congress chief Rajesh Ram and party leader Shakeel Ahmad Khan.

However, according to a report on NDTV, the alliance may possibly arrive at an agreement that may see the RJD, which was seeking at least 144 seats, contest 135 and Congress may final agree on 61 seats, a climbdown from 2020 number of 70.

The report, citing sources, mentions the allies were able to iron out a major sticking point-- one on which the Congress was fence-sitting for days -- projecting Tejashwi Yadav as the Chief Ministerial face of the alliance. However, there is no clarity on whether he would get any deputies.

Sources cited by the publication said the Congress had initially asked for 70 seats, the same number as they had fought in the 2020 Assembly elections. Arguing that the number of constituents in Mahagatbandhan has increased and therefore the 2020 formula can not be implemented in this election, the RJD has offered Congress a lesser tally.

The unending meetings to chalk out an acceptable formula is complicated further by the entry of two more parties in the alliance - JMM, the ally in Jharkhand and IIP. Initially, the alliance comprised six parties - the RJD, Congress, CPI, CPM and VIP. Mukesh Sahni - whose party commands a chunk of backward caste votes -- had asked for 50 seats and the post of Deputy Chief Minister if the alliance won.

On the other hand, all eyes are on Raghopur, as RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav is slated to file his nomination from the high-profile constituency on October 15. Raghopur carries immense political and emotional weight for the Yadav family. The seat has been a stronghold of the RJD, previously represented by party supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav and his wife, former Chief Minister Rabri Devi. Tejashwi Yadav has held the seat since 2015 and is seeking a third consecutive term

The ruling NDA on Sunday had announced the number of seats that it would be contesting with its top constituents — BJP and JD(U) — for the first time placing each other on equal terms. Both will contest 101 seats.