Bihar Polls: Mahagathbandhan Faces Seat-Sharing Challenges As JMM, RLJP Join Alliance

The Mahagathbandhan in Bihar is set to expand ahead of the upcoming assembly elections with the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), led by Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, and the Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party (RLJP), led by Pashupati Kumar Paras, expected to join the opposition alliance in the state.

Bihar Congress president Rajesh Kumar told The Times of India on Saturday, "Two more parties are expected to be part of the INDIA bloc soon, and we all have to sacrifice our share of seats to accommodate the new partners."

However, this expansion is likely to create seat-sharing challenges for the grand alliance, as the smaller allies may demand a larger number of constituencies. Currently, the Mahagathbandhan comprises the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Congress, Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) led by Mukesh Sahni, and the Left parties.

RJD Plans to Contest 150 Seats

The RJD, the dominant party in the alliance, is expected to contest at least 150 seats, leaving just 93 seats for its partners. This could cause friction with parties like the Left, who reportedly want to contest at least 40 seats this time.

Left Parties Demand Larger Share

The Left parties are pressing for more seats based on their performance in the 2020 Bihar elections:

CPI-ML won 12 of the 19 seats it contested

CPM won 2 of the 4 seats it contested

CPI won 2 of the 6 seats it contested

VIP Demands and Assurance

The VIP, which had previously left the Mahagathbandhan to join the NDA due to disagreements over seat-sharing, has reportedly requested 60 seats this time. Party president Mukesh Sahni clarified on Saturday to ANI, "We are discussing every seat...our discussions are going very smoothly...we have to contest the elections under the leadership of Tejashwi Yadav. There is no dispute regarding the seats in the Mahagathbandhan."

Congress May Settle for Fewer Seats

With smaller allies demanding more constituencies, the Congress may have to contest fewer seats than in 2020, when it fielded candidates in 70 constituencies but won only 19.

The Bihar Assembly elections are scheduled to be held later this year.