Insiders claim that Mahagathbandhan’s first election conference was a “win-win” for both the RJD and the Congress. While Congress postpones talks on leadership and seat sharing, RJD is successful in positioning Tejashwi as the alliance’s spokesperson.
The Opposition INDIA bloc, known in Bihar as the Mahagathbandhan, convened for over three hours in Patna on Thursday to plan its approach for the upcoming Assembly elections. Leaders from the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Congress, the alliance’s largest constituents, described the meeting as a “win-win” outcome, marking the first steps toward a cohesive poll strategy.
The alliance, comprising the RJD, Congress, Left parties, and Mukesh Sahani’s Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP), agreed to form a coordination committee led by RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav, the Leader of Opposition in the Bihar Assembly. The committee will develop a common minimum programme, focusing on campaign issues, seat-sharing, and joint efforts for the polls due later this year. Sources confirmed that discussions on leadership and seat allocation were deferred.
An RJD leader noted that while the Congress succeeded in postponing talks on leadership and seat-sharing, the RJD secured Yadav’s leadership of the coordination committee. A Congress leader, speaking anonymously, said Yadav’s recent meeting with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi in Delhi clarified the Patna meeting’s agenda. This came amid reported RJD concerns over Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar’s “Palayan Roko, Naukri Do” (stop migration, provide jobs) yatra.
The coordination committee’s formation is significant, as the RJD reportedly favors projecting Yadav as the chief ministerial candidate. However, Congress leaders are cautious, wary of the BJP’s revival of the “Lalu-Rabri jungle raj” narrative. The RJD also urged allies to avoid repeating the 2020 election’s mistakes, when Congress contested 70 of 243 seats but won only 19, the lowest strike rate among Mahagathbandhan parties.
For Congress, delaying seat-sharing talks provides time to build momentum through initiatives like Kumar’s yatra, strengthening its bargaining position. Post-meeting, Yadav told reporters, “We discussed key issues and agreed to focus on migration and unemployment. Bihar needs to move beyond this 20-year-old unstable government, marred by Nitish Kumar’s flip-flops and disregard for the people’s mandate.”
Krishna Allavaru, AICC’s Bihar in-charge, confirmed the coordination committee’s creation, stating it would meet regularly to address core issues of migration and joblessness. “We will stay focused on these priorities,” he said.
VIP’s Commitment Strengthens Alliance
A positive development for the INDIA bloc was VIP chief Mukesh Sahani’s participation. The VIP, which won four of 11 seats as part of the NDA in 2020, joined the Mahagathbandhan meeting despite rumors of a potential return to the NDA. Sahani, from the Mallah community (an Extremely Backward Class), reaffirmed his commitment to advocating for a dedicated quota for the Nishad community and allied castes, a stance he maintained even within the NDA. His decision bolsters the alliance’s outreach to backward classes.
As the Mahagathbandhan gears up for the elections, the coordination committee’s deliberations will shape its campaign and unity, with migration and unemployment as central themes in its challenge to the ruling NDA.
