Bid to stem rot in INDIA bloc as Congress leaders Gehlot, Allavaru meet RJD’s Lalu, Tejashwi
Patna: Amid the prevailing stalemate over seat sharing and the projection of the CM face in the opposition INDIA bloc, senior Congress leaders Ashok Gehlot and Krishna Allavaru, the in charge of the party in Bihar, met RJD chief Lalu Prasad and his son Tejashwi Prasad Yadav on Wednesday. Although it was not known what transpired during the meeting, informed sources said they discussed resolving the tensions quickly. They are also working on a strategy to project Tejashwi as the opposition’s CM face, which has been a major issue of conflict between the RJD and Congress, they said. The Congress has, so far, refrained from naming the Yadav scion as the CM face, although Tejashwi projected Congress leader Rahul Gandhi as the prime minister face for the next Lok Sabha polls. Internal conflicts, confusions and and a lack of coordination among the INDIA bloc partners had made headlines, prompting the top leadership to intervene and resolve the tension before it spoiled the opposition’s show, sources said. Talking to a section of media, Dipankar Bhattacharya, general secretary of the CPI(ML) — an ally — said he was hopeful that “Tejashwi’s name as the opposition’s CM face could be officially announced at the INDIA bloc’s joint press conference on Thursday”. “Entire Bihar knows that Tejashwi will be the CM if the INDIA bloc gets the majority. Tejashwi becoming the CM is as right as Nitish Kumar not becoming the CM again,” he said. Emerging from the meeting with Lalu and Tejashwi, Gehlot refused to comment on the issue, claiming all confusions would be resolved at the Thursday media conference. “Our meeting with Lalu was highly positive. The INDIA bloc is fully united and contesting the elections with strength. Tomorrow, the full situation will be clarified at the presser,” Gehlot said. He rejected the friendly fight in the INDIA bloc as an issue, saying such things are normal. “Bihar wants a change, and people understand that the victory of the INDIA alliance is in the interest of the state as well as country,” he said. Gehlot, who was accompanied by Allavaru — largely blamed by a section of the party leaders in the state for messing things up — insisted that the Congress was serious about the assembly polls. Earlier in the day, Tejashwi rejected any controversy in the opposition alliance. “There is no controversy and confusion in the INDIA bloc … Will talk tomorrow (Thursday) … You will get answers to every question,” Tejashwi said. Unity in the INDIA bloc appeared to hit a roadblock when the allies were found announcing their own list of candidates without considering the interests of other partners, and secretly handing party symbols to their candidates. The opposition leaders were last seen together at the launch of the ‘Ati Pichhda EBC Sankalp Patra’ in Patna on Sept 24. The launch was attended by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, party MP Rahul Gandhi, RJD leader Tejashwi and VIP chief Mukesh Sahani among others. Prior to that, they were found travelling together during the fortnight-long Voter Adhikar Yatra launched by Rahul, which passed through some 25 districts. But the momentum built up after the yatra apparently broke, with chaos, confusion and tension in the opposition camp. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
‘Voting will be done on Rahul’s picture’: Rift in Mahagathbandhan? Pappu Yadav hits out over Tejashwi-only poster
NEW DELHI: Independent MP Pappu Yadav on Thursday once again expressed his discontent over Tejashwi Yadav being considered as the potential chief ministerial candidate of the Mahagathbandhan, despite having supported the alliance. He firmly said, “voting will be done on Rahul Gandhi’s picture.” His remarks come ahead of a key Mahagathbandhan press conference, in which RJD, the largest constituent, is supported by the Congress. The venue, Maurya Hotel in Patna, featured posters solely of RJD scion Tejashwi Yadav, fuelling speculation that he may be declared the alliance’s CM candidate. Pappu Yadav has repeatedly voiced his reluctance to endorse Tejashwi as the face of the opposition bloc challenging long-serving Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar. Speaking to ANI, he criticised the alliance’s posters for not featuring Rahul Gandhi, saying, “Voting will be done on Rahul Gandhi’s picture only and not on anyone else’s picture… Pictures of all three leaders of the alliance should have been there. This is not right, and it will not send the right message… We can win Bihar only on the face of Rahul Gandhi. We have not other way to win here…” He also extended an olive branch to Nitish Kumar, alleging, “BJP is stabbing him from behind.” He added, “BJP is finishing him. Our leaders have always respected him. He is being stabbed from behind, but we have a lot of respect for him…” Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi avoided answering a media question on Mahagathbandhan’s possible CM face in Bihar, highlighting the tension — or as some call it, “friendly fights” — between the Mahagathbandhan’s two largest parties, RJD and Congress. The discussion over Tejashwi’s name has intensified ahead of the Mahagathbandhan’s official declaration. Bihar is scheduled for two-phase polling on November 6 and November 11, with counting set for November 14. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Bihar elections: No Rahul Gandhi on banner! Row erupts over Tejashwi-only poster; Congress downplays rift talk
NEW DELHI: The absence of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s picture from the poster at the Mahagathbandhan’s joint press conference in Patna has stirred controversy. The banner, which has gone viral on social media, prominently features only RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav. This press conference marks the first gathering of Mahagathbandhan leaders amid speculations over seat-sharing arrangements among the INDIA bloc constituents for the upcoming assembly polls. BJP mocks ‘Mahagathbandhan’ press conference The BJP has seized the opportunity to mock the Mahagathbandhan, pointing out the absence of Rahul Gandhi’s photo from the alliance’s press meet poster in Patna. During this event, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav is expected to be named the chief ministerial candidate. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla took to X to comment, “Joint PC? But only one picture. Rahul Gandhi & Congress ka ‘samman chori’. Showed Congress & Rahul his place?” “So it’s not just “Samman” Respect chori that Congress is grappling with (Tejaswi pic on joint pc poster and rahul gandhi deleted) Now Ticket chori allegations hit Congress especially key team of Rahul Gandhi,” he added. Internal rifts out in open? Speaking about Tejashwi Yadav’s photo in the poster at the venue of Mahagathbandhan PC, Independent MP Pappu Yadav says, “Voting will be done on Rahul Gandhi’s picture only and not on anyone else’s picture… Pictures of all three leaders of the alliance should have been there. This is not right, and it will not send the right message… We can win Bihar only on the face of Rahul Gandhi. We have not other way to win here…” Congress downplays rift allegations Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera dismissed claims of internal discord within the alliance, labeling the uproar over the poster as an “irrelevant issue.” He stated, “Let the opposition say whatever they want to say, but there was never a clash between us (Mahagathbandhan)… Is this a relevant issue? Does this issue make any sense to the youth of Bihar?” Khera emphasized that the alliance is focused on contesting elections based on issues rather than appearances. The upcoming Bihar election is set to witness a high-voltage battle between the NDA and INDIA bloc. The NDA comprises the Bharatiya Janata Party, Janata Dal (United), Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular), and Rashtriya Lok Morcha. The Mahagathbandhan, led by the Rashtriya Janata Dal, includes the Congress party, the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) (CPI-ML) led by Deepankar Bhattacharya, the Communist Party of India (CPI), the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM), and Mukesh Sahani’s Vikasheel Insaan Party (VIP). Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Bihar Election 2025: Prashant Kishor tells the people of Bihar to beware of PM Modi and Rahul Gandhi!
Bihar Election 2025: Prashant Kishor, founder of the Jan Suraj Party, has said that Rahul Gandhi has nothing to do with Bihar, its development, or its problems. He also made similar remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Patna: Prashant Kishor, founder of the Jan Suraj Party, has targeted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. He said that Rahul Gandhi has nothing to do with Bihar, its development, or its problems. Prashant Kishor alleged that Rahul Gandhi was only active in pressuring the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) to gain more seats. He also said that Rahul Gandhi would come to Bihar during the elections, hold a few rallies, and then his connection with Bihar would end. Prashant Kishor claimed that Rahul Gandhi was only trying to pressure the RJD to gain a few more seats. He said, “Rahul Gandhi has nothing to do with Bihar, its development, or its problems. If he doesn’t get seats, he will sit in Delhi. He will only come during elections, hold three or four rallies, and the story of Bihar will be over for him. Come to Bihar during elections, take votes, and then leave The Jan Suraj Party founder said that the people of Bihar should be wary of leaders like Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi. He alleged that these leaders come to Bihar during elections, mislead the people, take votes, and then leave. He said, “Bihar should be wary of such people, whether they are Modi or Rahul Gandhi, who come only during elections, show off, make big promises, mislead the public, take votes, and then leave. After this, Bihar and its people will suffer for five years. Your children will have to work as laborers, you will face floods, and these people will not say a word.” The main contest in the Bihar Assembly elections will be between the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Grand Alliance. The NDA comprises the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Janata Dal United (JDU), Lok Janshakti Party-Ram Vilas (LJP-R), Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM), and Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM). On the other hand, the Grand Alliance of the opposition includes the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), the Congress, the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) led by Dipankar Bhattacharya, the Communist Party of India (CPI), the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM), and Mukesh Sahni’s Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP). Claims to be an alternative to Jan Suraj Prashant Kishore’s Jan Suraj Party has claimed to contest all 243 seats in the state. Voting for the Bihar elections will be held on November 6 and 11, respectively. The results will be declared on November 14th. Prashant Kishor’s statement has become a topic of discussion in political circles. He has attempted to establish his own identity in Bihar politics and believes that state leaders should be wary of outsiders who only engage in vote bank politics. He also stated that the Jan Suraj Party will emerge as an alternative for the people of Bihar. Authored by: Suryakant Pathak About the Author Suryakant Pathak is a consultant at Navbharat Times Online. He has been a journalist for the past 31 years. He writes news, analysis, and blogs on India’s international relations and political and social developments in the country and the world. Courtesy: Hindi News
Bihar Elections: MP Pappu Yadav claims Dalits and minorities follow Rahul Gandhi’s ideology
Bihar Election 2025: Rashtriya Lok Morcha chief Upendra Kushwaha said that the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) announced candidates at the last minute because it is afraid of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Patna: Bihar assembly elections will be held in two phases next month. Earlier, Purnia MP Pappu Yadav claimed that people from backward castes, Dalits, and minorities follow the ideology of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. He said that these communities are fed up with migration and unemployment. Meanwhile, Rashtriya Lok Morcha chief Upendra Kushwaha targeted the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), saying that they are announcing candidates at the last minute because they are afraid of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Kushwaha also said that the people of Bihar are intelligent and will teach the Grand Alliance a lesson. Voting in Bihar will take place on November 6 and 11, with results declared on November 14. Purnia MP Pappu Yadav said that people from backward castes, Dalits, and minorities in Bihar are embracing the ideology of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. He stated that these people are deeply troubled by migration and unemployment in the country. Pappu Yadav made this statement just weeks before the Bihar Assembly elections. Confident of NDA forming government in Bihar On the other hand, Rashtriya Lok Morcha chief Upendra Kushwaha took a dig at the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). He said that the RJD is releasing its candidate list at the last minute. According to Kushwaha, the RJD is doing so because it is afraid of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). He also said that the people of Bihar know everything and will definitely give a befitting reply to the Grand Alliance. Kushwaha expressed confidence that the NDA will form the government in Bihar. RJD and Congress face off on some seats The RJD released a list of 143 candidates on the last day of filing nominations for the second phase of the Bihar elections. Both RJD and Congress have fielded candidates in some seats. For example, in Narkatiaganj, Deepak Yadav (RJD) will face Shaswat Kedar Pandey (Congress). Similarly, in Kahalgaon, Rajneesh Bharti (RJD) will contest against Praveen Singh Kushwaha (Congress). In Sikandra (SC) seat, Uday Narayan Chaudhary (RJD) will face Vinod Chaudhary (Congress). In Lalganj (Vaishali), Shivani Shukla is likely to face Aditya Raja (Congress). However, it is also expected that the alliance partners will reach a compromise and one party will withdraw its candidacy. The assembly elections in Bihar will be held in two phases. The first phase will be held on November 6 and the second phase on November 11. The election results will be declared on November 14. Curated by: Suryakant Pathak About the Author Suryakant Pathak is a consultant at Navbharat Times Online. He has been a journalist for the past 31 years. He writes news, analysis, and blogs on India’s international relations and political and social developments in India and the world. Courtesy: Hindi News
Cong netas sought cash for ticket: MLA
Patna: Internal disputes in the Congress have come to the fore in Purnia with sitting MLA Md Afaque Alam on Sunday accusing Purnia MP Pappu Yadav and the party’s state incharge, Krishna Allavaru, of engaging in corrupt practices and brokering the assembly ticket for crores of rupees. Alam’s allegations followed the announcement of Md Irfan Alam as the Congress candidate for the Kasba constituency. He also appealed to party leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge to intervene and investigate the matter. A purported audio clip of Alam discussing the ticket with state Congress president Rajesh Ram has circulated widely on social media, although its authenticity has not been verified. The Congress candidate, Md Irfan, is considered close to Pappu Yadav. Alam alleged that Congress leader Shakeel Ahmad assisted in finalising a deal worth crores in exchange for the ticket. “We have been continuously becoming MLAs from Congress. I appeal to Kharge and Rahul ji to conduct an investigation. The party’s image is being tarnished. They have made such people candidates who have worked to defame the grand alliance,” he said. In the three-minute sixteen-second audio, Alam can be heard discussing the ticket, while Rajesh Ram is purportedly heard saying that the process has been finalised but is pending further action. The audio, however, remains unverified. Congress has denied ticket renewal to four-time sitting MLA Alam from Kasba and awarded it to Md Irfan, who is considered a close associate of Pappu Yadav. Md Irfan’s own distress over the ticket issue was captured in a video on Oct 17, in which he was seen crying profusely. The video went viral on social media, showing him overcome with emotion. On the same night, Pappu Yadav confirmed on social media that Irfan had been given the ticket by Congress. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Is Bihar’s caste census becoming an election issue?:Upper castes raise concerns, Dalits and OBCs insist on counting
The caste census is stirring debate across Bihar, with opinions sharply divided along community lines. Sita Sharan, 42, from the Bhumihar community, runs a fast food shop in Patna. “Caste census should happen. We should know how many people belong to each group. It won’t harm anyone,” he says. Likewise, 42-year-old Tinku Jha, a Brahmin from Vaishali, sees no threat in the exercise. In contrast, Prince, from the Rajput community, is firmly opposed to the census and also rejects caste-based reservations. Among supporters is Bhola Prasad, a 60-year-old Yadav farmer from Sonpur in Saran. “Caste census must happen. Work and opportunities should be distributed according to population. Those opposing it are already ahead in everything, including jobs,” he argues. Yet, a section of upper-caste voters remains apprehensive. Is the caste census shaping the Bihar Assembly elections? How do different communities view it, and which parties are likely to benefit or lose? To explore this, we spoke with residents in Saran, Vaishali, and Patna, and consulted experts on the potential electoral impact. Background: Caste survey and census in Bihar Bihar conducted a caste survey in 2023 under the Mahagathbandhan government, with CM Nitish Kumar and Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav in power. The caste-based census report was released on October 2, 2023. This was the first state-level caste survey in the country since independence. First, a look at Bihar’s population by caste according to the report… Following Bihar’s survey, the central government announced on April 30, 2025, that a nationwide caste census would be conducted. The exercise will take place in two phases alongside the general population census in 2026–27. The decision came after sustained pressure from both political parties and the public, as the last caste-based census in India was carried out in 1931. What communities regarded as upper caste think about the caste census Rajputs: Economic focus over caste 29-year-old Prince Ranjan Singh, a Rajput from Saran working in a medical lab, opposes the caste census. “In my view, the census should focus on the poor. Give resources to those who need them. Who is stopping anyone? With 500–600 crore, you could build 100,000 houses for the poor,” he says. Prince advocates for reservations based on economic criteria rather than caste, arguing that caste-based quotas have failed to address social backwardness. “Reservation should not be based on caste, but on poverty. Every caste has rich and poor. The current system is limping,” he adds. Bhumihars: Strong support for census 42-year-old Sita Sharan, a Bhumihar from Saran who runs a fast food shop and works as a Flipkart delivery partner, considers the caste census essential. “Caste enumeration is completely necessary, but a half-hearted survey is useless,” he says. Sita Sharan explains the practical benefits: “The caste census should happen, and it causes neither harm nor advantage. It will simply reflect the population of each community, giving them proportional strength. This will not create animosity in society. What use is reservation if people do not get access to education?” Brahmins: Census not harmful 42-year-old Tinku Jha, a Brahmin from Vaishali who supports his household through labor work, also backs the census. “Caste enumeration does not harm anyone. Each community will receive its share based on population. Those opposing it have their own views. Some may lose, some may benefit,” he says. For Tinku, bigger election issues are the poor state of government schools, unemployment, inflation, and migration. “If Bihar had better employment opportunities, people would not have to go to Chennai, Visakhapatnam, or Punjab for work,” he notes. What did communities regarded as Dalits-Mahadalits say about caste census? Reservation has become a joke, employment is key Ritik, a Dalit student at Patna University, says the reservation system has lost its effectiveness. “Reservations have become a joke because government jobs are declining. When institutions shut down, there are no jobs. Without jobs, where will reservation be implemented? The caste census is being conducted, but what is its operative purpose?” He questions the practical impact of the census: “The survey revealed that 33% of families earn less than ₹6,000 per month. What has been done after discovering this? They simply counted. Counting alone does not solve anything.” Caste census essential for children’s future Dilip Kumar Das, 45, from the Mahadalit Ravidas community in Khadka Tola, Saran, sees the census as crucial for planning his children’s future. A father of three, he wants them to become doctors and engineers. “The caste census is 100% necessary. It will help design schemes for every community, which will automatically support Bihar’s development,” he says. Addressing those who oppose the census, Dilip adds, “Reservation should be allocated according to population. Some people misuse the system—leaders like Chirag Paswan and Jitan Ram Manjhi already have advantages; they should now step aside.” He stresses that beyond education, health, and unemployment, the caste census remains a significant issue for Mahadalits. Views from OBCs and EBCs Upper-caste dominance and political opposition Bhola Prasad Yadav alleges that upper-caste groups opposing the caste census control jobs across sectors. He believes unemployment, migration, and inflation are bigger election issues than the caste census. “Still, caste enumeration will remain an issue for people, but during elections it becomes more of a political debate than a public concern,” he says. ‘PM Modi’s caste, yet no benefit’ Gautam Kumar, a Teli student at Patna University (Telis fall under Bihar’s EBC category), supports the caste census and insists reservations should reflect population share. “Even though PM Modi belongs to our caste, the community has seen no benefits,” he says. On its electoral significance, he adds, “We should benefit according to population, but nothing has happened so far.” Caste census as a tool for reservation reform Suraj Kumar, an OBC student at Patna University, describes the census as a means to reform reservations while highlighting economic inequalities. “The caste survey was correct because reservation must match caste population percentages,” he says. However, 20-year-old Shiv Kumar, also OBC, warns that political parties may exploit the census to increase casteism. “The census
Bihar polls: Congress releases second list of candidates; announces 5 nominees
NEW DELHI: The Congress party on Saturday announced its second list of candidates for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, fielding nominees for Narkatiaganj, Kishanganj, Kasba, Purnia, and Gaya Town constituencies. Shaswat Kedar Pandey will contest from Narkatiaganj, while Qamrul Hoda has been fielded from Kishanganj. Irfan Alam, Jitender Yadav, and Mohan Shrivasta will represent the party in Kasba, Purnia, and Gaya Town, respectively. Earlier on Friday, Congress released its first list of 48 candidates. The Mahagathbandhan, which includes the RJD and Congress, has struggled to finalise a seat-sharing arrangement for the first phase of polls, whose nomination process ended on Friday. In some constituencies, the alliance is witnessing a “friendly fight” between its partners. BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari alleged that the Mahagathbandhan is facing internal conflicts. He said, “Aapsi ladai ke patake Mahagathbandhan main phoot rahe hain.” He added, as quoted by ANI, “Mahagathbandhan in Bihar has till not officially announced its seat sharing. There are reports that RJD wants to have a candidate against the Congress Bihar President. Mahagathbandhan in Bihar is fighting a massive Internal tug of war: Rahul Gandhi has asked his party men to not focus on RJD seats. RJD workers are fighting against Congress workers on ground.” Bhandari further claimed, “Tejasvi Yadav and Mukesh Sahni have no face to show their workers; after been humiliated by Congress and Rahul Gandhi.” Meanwhile, earlier during the day, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) announced it will contest six Bihar seats independently, rather than as part of the Mahagathbandhan. Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor also weighed in on the electoral battle, saying, “INDIA alliance is going to finish third this time. The fight is between the NDA and Jan Suraaj.” Polling for the Bihar elections will take place on November 6 and 11, with results scheduled for November 14. With the election season underway, campaign activities have intensified, especially in constituencies going to the polls in the first phase. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Grand Alliance saved from collapse: Rahul Gandhi, on the initiative of Dipankar Bhattacharya, became the troubleshooter, speaking to Tejashwi and convincing Mukesh Sahni.
Bihar Assembly Election 2025 – Amid the ongoing deadlock over seat sharing in Bihar, the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) led by Mukesh Sahni nearly withdrew from the Grand Alliance, but was prevented by the intervention of top leadership. Patna: After several days of talks regarding seat sharing in Bihar, the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) led by Mukesh Sahni nearly withdrew from the Grand Alliance on Thursday, but was prevented by the intervention of top leaders. Sahani had broken ties with the Grand Alliance. According to media reports, Mukesh Sahni was upset over not being given a fair place in the Grand Alliance and had almost broken ties. He stated that no talks have taken place between the VIP and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) in the past two days. The source said that Sahni contacted Dipankar Bhattacharya, General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation. The matter was resolved after Rahul Gandhi intervened. Dipankar Bhattacharya then approached Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, on the issue and insisted that VIP be accommodated. Following this, Rahul Gandhi discussed the matter with the RJD’s top leadership and also spoke with Mukesh Sahni. He said that following this intervention, the VIP chief wrote a letter to Rahul Gandhi, expressing his commitment to remain in the “Grand Alliance.” Nishad community constitutes approximately 2.5 percent of the state’s population. In the letter, the VIP chief stated that they were assured a certain number of seats, which was not fulfilled. He stated that numbers do not matter, as they are part of the alliance because of their ideology and want to fight against communal and divisive forces. Mukesh Sahni is a leader of the Nishad community in Bihar, which constitutes approximately 2.5 percent of the state’s population. Edited by: Ravi Prakash Sinha About the Author Ravi Prakash Sinha is a senior journalist (Principal Digital Content Producer) at Navbharat Times Online. He has 25 years of experience covering current affairs, Jharkhand-Bihar politics, and ground reporting. Ravi Sinha has been with NBT (Digital) for the past three years. Courtesy: Hindi News
VIP gets 15 seats in the Grand Alliance: Rahul Gandhi’s intervention resolves deadlock; Rajya Sabha and MLC seats also offered
The impasse over seat sharing in the Bihar Grand Alliance has finally ended. Mukesh Sahni-led VIP has been awarded 15 assembly seats in the alliance. The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has subsequently assured VIP of one Rajya Sabha seat and two Legislative Council (MLC) seats. Patna: The seat sharing issue for Mukesh Sahni’s Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) in the Bihar Grand Alliance has finally been resolved. VIP has been awarded 15 assembly seats in the alliance. To compensate for the reduced number of seats, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has subsequently assured VIP of one Rajya Sabha seat and two Legislative Council (MLC) seats. VIP candidates announced Immediately after the seat sharing agreement was reached, VIP announced its candidates for two seats late last night. Party chief Mukesh Sahni himself will contest from the Gauda Bauram seat in Darbhanga district, while VIP state president Bal Govind Bind will contest from the Bhabua assembly seat. Both candidates will file their nomination papers on Friday. Today is the last day for nominations for the first phase. Deadlock and Reconciliation in Seat-Sharing Mukesh Sahni was adamant on more seats, which prevented the Grand Alliance from finalizing the seat-sharing formula. On Wednesday, Sahni called a press conference, which was later postponed several times. Finally, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi mediated the matter and spoke with Mukesh Sahni over the phone, leading to an agreement. After the seats were finalized, VIP handed over the symbol to its other candidates on Friday morning on behalf of Mukesh Sahni. The Importance of the Gauda Bauram Seat Mukesh Sahni will file his nomination from the Gauda Bauram seat, which will be held in the first phase of voting. In 2020, the VIP won this seat, but its MLA, Swarna Singh, later joined the BJP. This time, the BJP has cut Swarna Singh’s ticket and fielded Sujit Kumar Singh. Curated by: Ravi Sinha About the Author Ravi Prakash Sinha is a senior journalist (Principal Digital Content Producer) at Navbharat Times Online. He has 25 years of experience in current affairs, Jharkhand-Bihar politics, and ground reporting. Ravi Sinha has been working with NBT (Digital) for the last three years. He had the opportunity to work as the Jharkhand representative at Rajasthan Patrika from December 2005 to April 2020. He also spent 17 years as a casual assistant editor at the regional news section of Doordarshan Ranchi and All India Radio. Courtesy: Hindi News