In preparation for the 2025 Bihar assembly elections, Congress is set to hold a meeting with Bihar leaders in Delhi before initiating formal seat-sharing talks with Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). Sources indicate that Congress is keen on improving its seat selection strategy, particularly after lessons learned from the 2020 assembly elections. The party is expected to focus more on winning key constituencies rather than securing a larger number of seats in alliance with RJD.

Preliminary Seat-Sharing Discussions

Reports suggest that Congress has started consulting with local leaders in Bihar to decide on the seats they should claim from RJD in the upcoming elections. These informal talks have not yet led to any official discussions between Congress and RJD regarding the seat-sharing formula. Despite this, the party’s approach signals a shift in strategy, as Congress aims for more targeted wins in the coming election.

Lessons from the 2020 Bihar Assembly Elections

In the 2020 Bihar assembly elections, Congress contested 70 seats but won only 17. This poor performance, Congress believes, was partly due to RJD allotting several seats with low strike rates to Congress, particularly in areas where the caste equation was not favorable for Congress.

For the 2025 elections, Congress is determined not to repeat those mistakes. In the 2020 polls, Congress contested in districts like Nalanda, Patna, Khagaria, West Champaran, Gopalganj, and Gaya, which were strategically less advantageous for them. This time, Congress aims to focus on areas with a better chance of victory and maximize its impact in key constituencies.

Seat Distribution Strategy and Shift in Focus

While Congress is focused on gaining more influence and better-performing seats, it has emphasized that the strategy will revolve around strategic seat distribution instead of simply aiming for a larger share of the total number of seats. The party’s main priority is to improve its strike rate and electoral success in specific constituencies, especially those that are more favorable for Congress and align better with its voter base.

RJD and Congress in the Lok Sabha Elections

It is important to note that while Congress faced difficulties in the 2020 Bihar assembly elections, it managed to secure 3 out of 9 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar. Key areas like Nalanda and Gopalganj, which had been allotted to Congress in the assembly elections, were instead won by RJD in the assembly. However, RJD’s seat-sharing formula in the Lok Sabha elections was more successful, as it helped the alliance secure a better outcome.

Upcoming Discussions and Challenges

As Congress prepares for formal seat-sharing talks with RJD, it will need to negotiate and decide which seats are the most viable for both parties. However, the exact date for the meeting between Congress and Bihar leaders has not been finalized yet. The party will likely need to carefully navigate its relationship with RJD, balancing the need for a strong alliance with the desire to secure more winnable seats for its own candidates.

Congress’s strategy in 2025 is to avoid the setback faced in 2020 by focusing more on seat viability and voter preferences rather than simply expanding its seat count. This will be crucial in ensuring Congress’s success in Bihar in the upcoming elections, where a strong seat-sharing agreement with RJD will determine the outcome of the polls.

Conclusion

Congress’s approach to seat-sharing with RJD in 2025 signifies a shift toward more strategic planning and seat selection in light of past election experiences. With talks expected to formalize soon, Congress aims to maximize its chances of success by prioritizing winnable seats and avoiding poorly performing constituencies. The Bihar elections will be a significant challenge for both Congress and RJD, and how they manage the seat-sharing talks will play a crucial role in their alliance’s performance in the polls.

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