Opposition Alliance Seals Seat-Sharing Deal in Bihar for 2024 Lok Sabha Elections

The Opposition’s INDIA bloc, also known as the Mahagathbandhan, has finalized a seat-sharing agreement for the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections in Bihar. The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), the primary constituent of the Mahagathbandhan, will contest from 26 seats, including significant constituencies like Purnea and Hajipur. The Congress will field candidates on nine seats, such as Kishanganj and Patna Sahib, while the Left parties will vie for five seats.

The allocation of Purnea and Katihar seats, currently held by the Janata Dal (United), posed a challenge in the negotiation process between the RJD and the Congress. Despite recent entrant Pappu Yadav’s aspirations to contest from Purnea with Congress support, the RJD secured the constituency for itself, nominating Bima Bharti, a former JD(U) member.

The announcement of the seat-sharing arrangement follows the closure of the nomination filing for the first phase of Lok Sabha polls. The RJD’s unilateral nomination of candidates for all four seats in the initial phase triggered discontent among allies, notably the Congress. The absence of Tejashwi Yadav, leader of the RJD, during the Mahagathbandhan’s press conference in Patna added to the intrigue surrounding the announcement.

While Tejashwi Yadav assured an understanding over seat-sharing, internal tensions persisted, especially regarding the Katihar seat. Although the Congress sought this constituency, the RJD remained adamant about its claim over Purnea. Despite assurances of a respectable allocation, reports of discontent within the alliance surfaced, exacerbated by unilateral candidate announcements by the RJD.

In the backdrop of discontent, former governor and senior Congress leader Nikhil Kumar expressed dissatisfaction with the RJD’s candidate nominations, emphasizing the importance of consensus in coalition politics.

With the 2024 Lok Sabha elections looming, the Opposition’s INDIA bloc aims to mount a formidable challenge against the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which secured 39 seats in the 2019 elections. As the electoral landscape evolves, the dynamics within the Mahagathbandhan underscore the complexities of alliance politics and the imperative of cohesive decision-making.