The political atmosphere is charged in Bihar as the state prepares for the upcoming assembly elections. Discussions regarding seat distribution within the existing coalitions are still underway, with no firm agreement on the number of seats each party will contest. The leaders of the NDA and the India Bloc are currently engaged in deliberations on the seat-sharing formula.
In a recent public gathering in Muzaffarpur, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav made a significant announcement that has sent ripples through the political landscape. He stated that the RJD would contest all 243 seats in the Bihar Assembly. This declaration has raised immediate questions concerning the future of the existing alliances. Yadav urged the public to support him, requesting votes based on his leadership.
During the Muzaffarpur event, Tejashwi Yadav also inaugurated a statue of Baba Saheb Bhimrao Ambedkar. On this occasion, he voiced his commitment to the progress of Bihar, while also criticizing the current government. He accused the administration of lacking vision, claiming they are only imitating the opposition. Further, he alleged widespread corruption and exploitation of the underprivileged.
Tejashwi Yadav’s statement emerges at a critical juncture, with the Grand Alliance facing complex seat-sharing negotiations, complicated further by the involvement of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and the Lok Janshakti Party.
In the 2020 elections, the RJD, the largest party in the alliance, contested 144 seats and won 75. The Congress contested 70 seats and secured 19 victories. Congress’s state in-charge, Krishna Allavaru, indicated that the inclusion of new parties would require each party to make seat concessions.
The BJP has responded to Tejashwi Yadav’s statement. BJP spokesperson Neeraj Kumar advised Yadav to abandon unrealistic expectations, stating he did not possess the capacity to compete in all 243 seats. He suggested that Yadav’s statements were an attempt to pressure allies and questioned the public’s trust in him, citing the fodder scam and land-for-jobs controversy. Kumar asserted that the NDA would receive votes due to the popularity of Nitish Kumar and Prime Minister Modi.