With just one day remaining to file nominations for the first phase of the Bihar Assembly elections, the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) has yet to finalise its seat-sharing arrangement, sparking uncertainty within the opposition bloc. The Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)—the two largest constituents of the alliance—continued their discussions on Thursday as Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and party leader Rahul Gandhi met RJD leaders to break the deadlock. Senior Congress representatives also held separate talks with RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav in an attempt to reach a consensus before the nomination deadline.

According to sources, the talks remain inconclusive, with both parties struggling to balance internal expectations and accommodate smaller allies such as the CPI(ML) and the Left Front. During Thursday’s meeting, Lalu Yadav reportedly emphasised that ensuring space for all partners within the alliance was “more important than rushing seat distribution.” His remarks came amid growing frustration among local leaders, some of whom have already filed nominations independently due to the delay. The Congress, which contested 70 seats in the 2020 Bihar Assembly elections, is reportedly seeking a similar share this time, while the RJD insists on contesting the majority of seats as the leading party of the alliance.

The delay in finalising the seat-sharing formula has already led to confusion among workers and candidates. The CPI(ML), a key Mahagathbandhan ally, recently withdrew its candidate list, citing ongoing discussions, signalling unease within the coalition. Meanwhile, the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United), has completed its candidate selection process. The BJP also mocked Rahul Gandhi for what it described as “vacation over election”, taking a swipe at the Congress leader’s perceived lack of urgency as deadlines loom.

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As the clock ticks down, the Mahagathbandhan faces the dual challenge of maintaining unity and presenting a coherent front against the NDA’s well-coordinated campaign. Analysts say the seat-sharing outcome will be critical in determining whether the alliance can sustain its electoral momentum or risk fragmentation. The first phase of polling is scheduled for later this month, with nominations closing on Friday.

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