Mahagathbandhan Struggles to Finalize Bihar Seat-Sharing Deal; Alliance Partners File Nominations Separately

By Oneindia Desk

Updated: Saturday, October 18, 2025, 11:01 [IST]

Deep cracks within Bihar's Opposition bloc, the Mahagathbandhan, have once again come to the fore as the alliance failed to seal its seat-sharing arrangement ahead of Friday's nomination deadline for the first phase of Assembly elections.

Despite marathon discussions, all alliance partners - including the RJD, Congress, CPI(ML-L), CPI(M), CPI, and Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) - went ahead and filed nominations for all 121 seats scheduled to go to polls in the first phase. Negotiations are still underway for the remaining 122 constituencies, where nominations close on Monday.

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Bihar's Mahagathbandhan alliance, comprising RJD, Congress, CPI(ML-L), CPI(M), CPI, and VIP, failed to agree on seat-sharing before the first phase of Assembly elections, leading to overlapping nominations, especially between RJD and Congress, and independent actions by Left parties and VIP. Negotiations continue for the remaining seats, with a proposed formula allotting seats to the different parties, and the deadline for withdrawals is October 20.

Mahagathbandhan Struggles to Finalize Bihar Seat-Sharing Deal Alliance Partners File Nominations Separately

Alliance Rift Widens

The inability to reach a consensus has triggered overlapping nominations across several constituencies, particularly between the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Congress.

While the alliance has not formally split, both parties released their lists independently. RJD insiders said senior leader Suresh Paswan has been fielded from Kutumba - the same seat where Congress has nominated its state president, Rajesh Ram. Similar clashes have emerged in Vaishali and Lalganj.

The Congress, meanwhile, has gone ahead and announced 48 candidates, and sources say it has distributed tickets in five more constituencies, taking its total to over 50.

Left Parties and VIP Chart Their Own Course

The Left parties have also moved ahead independently. The CPI (ML-Liberation) has declared 14 candidates for the first phase, while the CPI and CPI(M) are awaiting clarity on their final tallies. The VIP, led by Mukesh Sahani - who continues to insist on being projected as Deputy Chief Minister - has reportedly secured around 14 seats so far.

The RJD, though yet to release its official list, is said to have informally finalized about 48 candidates.

Possible Formula and Hope for Reconciliation

According to sources in New Delhi, the evolving seat-sharing proposal allots between 130-135 seats to the RJD, around 60 to the Congress, 15 to the VIP, and about 28-29 to the Left bloc (including 18 for CPI-ML, six for CPI, and four for CPI-M).

With the scrutiny of nomination papers scheduled for Saturday and withdrawals open until October 20, the alliance is now racing against time to prevent internal contests. Leaders hope that some candidates may withdraw before the deadline, allowing the Mahagathbandhan to project unity before polling begins.