Senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot held crucial talks on Wednesday with RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and his son Tejashwi Yadav at their residence in Patna. The meeting, also attended by Congress Bihar in-charge Krishna Allavaru, reportedly helped narrow the gaps between the two parties.
Gehlot described the discussions as “very positive” and confirmed that a joint press conference would be held to announce the alliance’s united stance. “There are 243 seats in Bihar; friendly fights may occur in just 5–10 constituencies,” he told reporters.
Congress May Finally Endorse ‘Tejashwi Sarkar’
The biggest sticking point in the alliance talks was Congress’s reluctance to back Tejashwi as the chief ministerial candidate, despite the RJD’s campaign focusing heavily on the slogan “Tejashwi Sarkar”. Sources now suggest the Congress has softened its stance and may officially support Tejashwi as the face of the Mahagathbandhan.
The decision is seen as a strategic move to project unity within the INDIA bloc in Bihar, particularly as the BJP gears up for an aggressive campaign led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is scheduled to address two rallies on Friday.
Seat-Sharing Deadlock Nears Resolution
Until now, the alliance had faced multiple “friendly fights,” with Congress, RJD, CPI, and VIP fielding candidates against each other in several constituencies. Among the contested seats were Vaishali, Kahalgaon, Narkatiaganj, Sultanganj, and Sikandra.
However, insiders say many of these overlapping nominations will be withdrawn before Thursday’s deadline, reducing conflicts to a few seats. Congress leaders insist they are seeking “quality” seats where they have a realistic chance of winning rather than a large number of constituencies.
Internal Rifts and Blame Game
The prolonged negotiations had sparked unrest within the Bihar Congress, with some local leaders accusing Allavaru and others of mishandling the talks. Several ticket aspirants alleged favoritism and corruption in candidate selection.
Party sources claim that the high command’s delay and internal power tussles had nearly jeopardized the alliance at a time when the NDA government in Bihar faces growing anti-incumbency.
INDIA Bloc Eyes a Fresh Start
Gehlot asserted that despite BJP’s attempts to spread “misinformation” about a rift, the Mahagathbandhan remains “fully united.” He added, “The people of Bihar want change. The INDIA bloc’s victory will be in the interest of both the state and the nation.”
If finalized, the Congress’s decision to back Tejashwi Yadav could mark a significant turning point for the opposition alliance in Bihar. It would also position Tejashwi as one of the key young leaders in the INDIA bloc’s broader national strategy.
With the seat-sharing deal expected to be finalized within 24 hours, the Mahagathbandhan is likely to launch its joint campaign later this week — potentially ending weeks of speculation about internal discord.