Congress Initiates Seat-Sharing Talks with Bihar Allies for Lok Sabha Polls

On Sunday, the Congress officially commenced discussions on seat-sharing with its Bihar allies, the Janata Dal (United) and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), in a bid to establish a cohesive front against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Congress Meeting

Led by senior leader Mukul Wasnik, the Congress’s five-member National Alliance Committee (NAC) initiated talks with authorized leaders of the JD(U) and the RJD in New Delhi. This move follows extensive internal deliberations within the party, as mentioned by leaders of the Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee (BPCC).

The NAC, equipped with election statistics, party members’ aspirations, and considerations of winnability for each seat, aims to strike a “reasonable and respectable” arrangement. A senior All India Congress Committee (AICC) leader, speaking on the condition of anonymity, emphasized the party’s readiness to compromise without sacrificing core principles merely to maintain the integrity of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc.

What was discussed in the meeting?

The initial round of talks unfolded positively, with optimism for an agreeable solution, as stated by the senior leader. Following discussions with JD(U) leader Sanjay Kumar Jha and RJD leader Manoj Jha, Manoj Jha expressed satisfaction, stating, “All is well.”

Previously, leaders of the ruling grand alliance in Bihar hinted at a potential allocation of 17 seats each for the JD(U) and the RJD out of the state’s 40 Lok Sabha seats. The Congress is anticipated to secure five seats, while the Communist Party of India (Marxist Leninist) Liberation may receive one seat for the upcoming general elections.

The Congress aims to finalize seat-sharing arrangements with other opposition parties in the INDIA bloc nationwide by the end of the month.

However, concerns have been raised within the Congress about the allocation of only five Lok Sabha seats in Bihar. A senior AICC leader pointed out that in the 2019 elections, the Congress contested nine seats in alliance with the RJD and left parties, winning one. Meanwhile, the JD(U) contested 17 seats as part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and secured victory in 16. Forgoing any existing seat poses a significant challenge for any party, but the leader acknowledged that the current political landscape presents different dynamics and challenges.