Patna: In a move that has stirred unease within Bihar’s opposition bloc, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has fielded five candidates against its ally, the Congress, for the upcoming assembly elections, triggering speculation of a brewing rift within the Mahagathbandhan.
The RJD’s latest list of nominees includes candidates in seats already claimed by the Congress and another alliance partner, the Vikassheel Insan Party (VIP). The RJD has put up contenders in Vaishali, Lalganj and Kahalgaon—constituencies where Congress has either declared or proposed its candidates. It will also take on VIP in Tarapur and Gaura Boram.
The decision comes amid an ongoing tussle over seat-sharing among Mahagathbandhan partners. Talks for the second phase of the elections, which cover 122 of Bihar’s 243 assembly seats, remain inconclusive. There had been earlier speculation that the RJD could also field a candidate in Kutumba, the seat held by Bihar Congress chief Rajesh Kumar Ram, further fuelling friction between the allies.
Reacting to the RJD’s announcement, Congress state president Rajesh Ram accused party leader Tejashwi Yadav of “changing his stance” and undermining Dalit representation in the alliance. “This shows Tejashwi’s real intent,” he said, alleging that RJD’s unilateral decisions were damaging the coalition’s credibility.
RJD spokesperson Mrityunjay Tiwari, however, downplayed talk of a rupture, insisting the party high command was monitoring developments. “These are internal matters of the alliance and will be resolved. RJD mainly contests in Bihar and Jharkhand; Congress should recognise this context instead of expecting us to fight in Karnataka or Rajasthan,” he said, adding that the alliance’s top leadership would soon meet to iron out differences.
The RJD’s move has sparked debate over whether the party is engaging in a “friendly fight” to assert dominance within the coalition or whether the development marks a deeper rift. With nomination deadlines approaching, the unresolved seat-sharing dispute risks denting the opposition’s image of unity as it faces the NDA in a high-stakes Bihar contest.
