The Bihar Assembly elections are fast approaching, but the Mahagathbandhan alliance faces a major challenge as seat-sharing talks between the Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) remain unresolved. Despite repeated rounds of negotiations, the alliance partners have yet to reach consensus, creating uncertainty over their final list of candidates.

On Wednesday, senior Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi held a meeting with RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav in New Delhi to address the standoff. Congress general secretary C Venugopal and other senior party leaders were also present at the discussion. Sources indicate that while both sides remain committed to contesting as allies, seat allocation continues to be the sticking point.

Meanwhile, a crucial meeting of the Congress Central Election Committee (CEC) is also underway in New Delhi to finalise the party’s strategy and candidate selection for the Bihar polls.

Deadlock Persists Between RJD and Congress

The RJD and Congress have not yet reached an agreement on seat allocation within the Mahagathbandhan. RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav’s recent visit to Delhi failed to produce a breakthrough, further delaying announcements from the alliance. At the same time, Congress has been holding discussions with its Bihar unit leaders to finalise candidate names, preparing to move ahead with or without an agreement.

The Congress appears increasingly frustrated by the delay, and has unilaterally announced its first list of candidates on social media. This list includes key names such as Bihar Congress chief Rajesh Ram (Kutumba), Shashi Shekhar Singh (Wazirganj), and Kaushlendra Kumar alias Chhote Mukhiya (Nalanda). Other candidates named include Trishuldhari Singh (Barbeegha), Pratima Das (Rajapakad), Prakash Garib Das (Bachhwada), Vijendra Chaudhary (Muzaffarpur), Om Parkash Garg (Gopalganj), Amita Bhushan (Begusarai), and Anand Shekhar Singh (Aurangabad).

Rajesh Ram, after filing his nomination, expressed gratitude to the Congress leadership for reposing faith in him.

RJD Pushes Ahead with Symbol Distribution

Despite unresolved talks with the Congress, RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav has already begun distributing party symbols to candidates. Those who received party tickets include Bogo Singh from Matihani, Sanjeev Singh from Parbatta, and Deepu Yadav from Sandesh constituency. Similarly, Mahagathbandhan allies CPI (ML) and CPM have also confirmed their candidate selections and are preparing to file nominations.

This parallel movement by both Congress and RJD highlights the growing rift within the alliance, raising questions about the Mahagathbandhan’s unity before the elections.

NDA Also Faces Seat Disputes

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is grappling with its own challenges. While the BJP and JD(U) have agreed to contest 101 seats each, internal tensions persist. Rashtriya Lok Morcha president Upendra Kushwaha has raised objections, delaying the NDA’s formal joint candidate announcement.

Despite the setback, both the BJP and JD(U) have started symbol distribution, and senior BJP leaders, including the Union Home Minister, are expected to visit Patna to oversee preparations and nomination filings.

Countdown to Nominations and Elections

The Bihar Assembly elections will be conducted in two phases:

• First phase: November 6, 2025 (last date for nominations: October 17)

• Second phase: November 11, 2025 (last date for nominations: October 20)

Tejashwi Yadav has already filed his nomination from Raghopur, setting the tone for a high-stakes electoral contest. With both the Mahagathbandhan and NDA struggling to finalise seat-sharing deals, the coming days will be critical in shaping the electoral battle.

As the impasse continues, political observers believe that the seat-sharing tussle could impact alliance chemistry and grassroots mobilisation, with both camps striving to avoid last-minute cracks that could benefit smaller parties or independents.

The next few days will determine whether Congress and RJD can reconcile differences or whether the Mahagathbandhan will enter the Bihar polls divided, giving the NDA a potential strategic edge.

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