The Congress party is working hard to regain its lost ground in Bihar. This effort comes just before the state polls scheduled for October-November. Allies within the INDIA bloc are growing cautious. They are wary of the grand old party’s increasing ambition.
Congress is reportedly insisting on getting 70 seats in the upcoming elections. There are also speculations about a potential compromise. The party might settle for fewer seats if offered the deputy chief minister post. Sources close to the matter have shared these details.
CPI (ML) general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya responded to the demand. He urged Congress to be more realistic in the seat sharing deal. He emphasized focusing on winning seats and improving strike rates. This approach would benefit both Congress and the INDIA bloc.
RJD spokesperson Mrityunjay Tiwari also weighed in. He reminded Congress of its performance in the last assembly polls. The party won only 19 out of 70 seats it contested. Tiwari suggested that Congress should be more practical in its demands.
Smaller allies are making their own demands. CPI (ML) is asking for 40 seats. Mukesh Sahani’s VIP wants 60 seats and a deputy chief minister post. The seat sharing deal is likely to be finalized after Navratri ends on October 2.
Congress’s tough stand has made allies wary. The party’s confidence is growing due to recent organizational changes. A young leader, Krishna Allavaru, was appointed as AICC in charge of Bihar in February.
A Dalit leader and MLA, Rajesh Ram, was appointed next month. He replaced Akhilesh Prasad Singh, who belongs to the Bhumihar caste. Congress is now projecting Rajesh Ram as a prominent Dalit face before the polls.
This new found confidence is mainly attributed to Rahul Gandhi’s Voter Adhikar Yatra. The yatra criss-crossed 25 districts of the state. It helped rejuvenate the party’s grassroots presence.
Congress leader Ram underplayed the conflicting interests among allies. He stated that the final blueprint of seat sharing had been finalized. It will be presented in the next INDIA bloc meeting.
On reports of an RJD leader demanding the Kutumba seat, Ram remained diplomatic. He said everyone has the right to make demands to their party leadership. There is no need to discuss it before the official announcement.
The political landscape in Bihar is heating up. All parties are jockeying for position. The INDIA bloc must navigate these tensions carefully. Unity is crucial for electoral success.
Seat sharing negotiations are always complex. This time, the stakes are particularly high. Congress’s aggressive stance adds another layer of difficulty. The outcome will shape Bihar’s political future.
Everyone is waiting for the post-Navratri decision. The INDIA bloc’s cohesion will be tested. How they handle these demands could determine their performance. The October-November polls are fast approaching.
Bihar’s voters are watching closely. The alliances and conflicts will influence their choices. The INDIA bloc must present a united front. Otherwise, they risk losing ground to opponents.