Mahagathbandhan In Disarray As JMM, RLJP Go Solo Amid Stalled Seat-Sharing Talks In Bihar; Last Date Of Filing Nominations Today

The Opposition Mahagathbandhan in Bihar is grappling with internal discord as its seat-sharing negotiations hit a wall, paving the way for “friendly fights” among alliance partners in multiple constituencies.

The crisis deepened on Sunday (19 October) after the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party (RLJP) announced plans to contest the forthcoming Assembly elections independently.

Despite several rounds of talks, the RJD led bloc comprising the Congress, CPI, CPI(ML), and Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) has yet to formalise a seat-sharing formula.

The Congress has so far released two lists naming 53 candidates, while the RJD, though active on the ground, has refrained from publishing an official list despite filing nominations in nearly 60 constituencies.

Amid this uncertainty, JMM General Secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya declared that the party would field candidates in six constituencies, including Chakai, Dhamdaha, Katoria, Manihari, Jamui, and Pirpainti, with the number likely to rise to ten.

Accusing allies of marginalising the JMM, he said, “There are contradictions within both the NDA and Mahagathbandhan. There is infighting in several constituencies. We will review our alliance in Bihar. They have betrayed the workers of the JMM. We are confident of winning, and the next government in Bihar will not be formed without the JMM’s support.”

The BJP wasted no time capitalising on the turmoil. Its IT Cell chief Amit Malviya took a swipe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav, posting that the arrogance of Rahul and Tejashwi has led to the Mahagathbandhan’s collapse. Bihar has been saved.

RLJP President Pashupati Kumar Paras, too, declared his party’s solo bid, releasing a list of 33 candidates after failed alliance talks. “I made concerted efforts to forge an alliance with the Mahagathbandhan, but it didn’t work out,” he said.

As the nomination process for the first phase of polling covering 121 constituencies across 18 districts concludes, the fractured Opposition faces the prospect of multiple intra-alliance contests in Lalganj, Kutumba, Sikandra, and Warsaliganj.

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