Subhechcha Ganguly 
In a dramatic turn of events ahead of the Bihar assembly elections, the Congress party on Thursday night released its list of 48 candidates without finalising a seat-sharing deal with its key ally, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). The move, coming just hours before the nomination deadline for the first phase of polls on November 6, has exposed deep cracks within the opposition INDIA bloc.
Weeks of tense negotiations culminated in the Congress unilaterally declaring its nominees after failing to reach an agreement with RJD leaders. The decision has thrown the alliance into disarray, threatening to fracture the much-hyped anti-BJP front as the campaign gains momentum.
The Congress list — unveiled by AICC general secretary K.C. Venugopal — includes a mix of veterans and fresh faces, with a focus on Scheduled Caste and Extremely Backward Class representation. However, the absence of candidates for key constituencies such as Maharajganj, Jale and Narkatiaganj signals ongoing disputes with the RJD, which has staked claims over these as well as the traditional stronghold of Kahalgaon.
Adding to the turbulence, Mukesh Sahni’s Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) expressed anger over receiving 15 seats instead of the 25–30 it sought, accusing larger allies of “feudal bargaining.” Smaller partners, including Left parties, are also reportedly discontented over being sidelined in the seat distribution.
Meanwhile, Pasupati Kumar Paras’s Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party (RLJP) exited the INDIA bloc on Friday, citing betrayal in seat-sharing negotiations, and forged a new alliance with AIMIM to contest 20–25 seats in Seemanchal and Magadh — a development that could split the minority vote and dent opposition prospects.
As tensions mount, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav is heading to Delhi for talks with Rahul Gandhi in a last-ditch attempt to salvage the alliance.
“Unity is our only weapon; discord is Nitish’s delight,” a senior Congress observer remarked, underscoring the growing sense of unease within the opposition ranks.
