Tensions Rise in Bihar’s Mahagathbandhan Over Seat-Sharing for Upcoming Assembly Elections
As Bihar Assembly elections draw closer, cracks are appearing in the Opposition’s Mahagathbandhan alliance. The latest flashpoint? Demands for more seats from key partners, with the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation (CPI-ML) now throwing its hat in the ring for a whopping 40 constituencies.
During a press conference in Motihari on Monday, CPI-ML Bihar State Secretary Comrade Kunal laid it all out. He revealed that the party has prepared a detailed list of 40 seats and submitted it straight to the Mahagathbandhan’s coordination committee. "Our involvement has boosted the alliance in past Lok Sabha and Assembly polls," Kunal said. "Wherever our candidates fought, both CPI-ML and the Grand Alliance came out stronger. That’s why we’re claiming these 40 seats formally."
The Mahagathbandhan brings together heavyweights like the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Congress, CPI-ML, Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP), CPI, and CPI-M. But right now, they’re all pulling in different directions with their seat demands, putting RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav under real pressure.
CPI-ML isn’t new to success here. In the 2020 Bihar Assembly elections, they contested 19 seats and won 12, making them the third biggest player in the alliance. Fast forward to the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, and their candidates shone in the Shahabad region, grabbing victories in Ara and Karakat seats. This track record gives them strong leverage in these Bihar election talks.
Adding to the mix, Congress wants 70 seats—just like in 2020, when they fought on that many but only secured 19 wins. Meanwhile, VIP chief Mukesh Sahani is pushing hard for 60 seats. Back then, his party was with the NDA and contested 11 seats, winning four. Now, Sahani’s even positioning himself as a potential Deputy Chief Minister candidate from public stages, ramping up the drama.
RJD and Congress leaders now face a tough balancing act to sort out Bihar seat-sharing without splitting the Grand Alliance further. With elections months away, these internal battles could make or break their chances against the ruling NDA. Stay tuned as more updates emerge on Bihar politics and Mahagathbandhan dynamics.
