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The ruling NDA in Bihar may have steered clear of internal clashes by resolving seat-sharing issues with its allies ahead of the assembly elections, but this has not been the case for the opposition Mahagathbandhan. Call them “friendly fights” like Congress leader Ashok Gehlot or fault lines emerging from failed seat-sharing consensus, the RJD-led Mahagathbandhan will have to deal with at least 12 contests where its allies are up against each other. The Mahagathbandhan comprises the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Congress, Left parties (CPI/CPI-ML), and Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP). The alliance faces internal friction on at least 12 constituencies, where partners are in direct competition. Now, these internal contests could prove to be a decisive factor when results are declared on November 14, given that the 2020 elections were decided by exceptionally fine vote margins. KEY CONTESTS AND CANDIDATES The internal fights involve three major pairings within the Mahagathbandhan: RJD v Congress The RJD and Congress are contesting against each other in multiple seats, including notable ones like Vaishali, where the Congress candidate is facing off against RJD nominee Ajay Kumar Kushwaha. In Kahalgaon, a seat once associated with veteran Congress leader Sadanand Singh, the grand old party has fielded Pravin Singh Kushwaha against RJD’s Rajnish Bharti. Sikandra (SC) is also witnessing a clash between Binod Kumar Choudhary of the Congress and RJD’s Uday Narain Chaudhary, a former assembly speaker. Other contested seats include Narkatiaganj and Sultanganj. Congress v Left Parties The Congress is also competing against its Left allies, primarily the Communist Party of India (CPI), in four constituencies. In Bachhwara, the CPI’s candidate is challenging Congress nominee Shiv Prakash Garib Das. This seat had a razor-thin margin of only 484 votes in 2020. Rajapakar (SC) and Bihar Sharif will also have internal contests. With the nomination withdrawal deadline over, these seats will definitely see a direct clash. Mukesh Sahani’s VIP and the RJD are clashing in two seats, including Chainpur and Gaura Bauram. In Gaura Bauram, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav initially gave the ticket to Afzal Ali Khan and, later when the seat-sharing arrangement was finalised, allocated the seat to the VIP that fielded Santosh Sahani. WHY THIS DISCORD? The major reason for this mismanagement and lack of coordination within the Mahagathbandhan is a definitive seat-sharing arrangement. Despite multiple meetings, the alliance failed to formally announce its seat-sharing arrangement. But leaders of the alliance parties have consistently downplayed the tensions. Congress leader Ashok Gehlot said while Bihar has 243 seats, “friendly fights on 5 to 10 seats” pose no significant issue. The RJD and VIP spokespersons also expressed confidence that the disputes will be resolved. But the NDA has repeatedly targeted the opposition over this issue in its poll campaigning. Lok Janshakti Party chief Chirag Paswan rejected the term used by Gehlot and said there is “nothing called friendly fight”. (With agency inputs)
