Bihar Election 2025: Grand Alliance Faces Internal Rift As RJD, Congress, VIP, Left Clash Over Seats

Patna: The Bihar Congress has released its first list of 48 candidates for the assembly elections. The list reaffirms the party's confidence in some of its prominent figures, but also reveals deep divisions and friendly conflicts within the Grand Alliance on several seats.

Among the prominent Congress candidates, the Bihar Congress Party chief himself will contest from the Kutumba seat. Current Aurangabad MLA Anand Shankar has been renominated. Bihar Congress Legislative Party leader Shakeel Ahmed has been nominated from the Kadwa seat. Hisua MLA Neetu Kumari has been renominated, despite recently expressing her desire to join the BJP. In 2020, she defeated the BJP candidate by over 17,000 votes.

Seat stalemate within the Grand Alliance

The first list clearly shows that the Grand Alliance's key allies, the RJD, Congress, VIP, and the Left parties, have not reached a consensus on several seats, leading to seat overlap. A direct contest between the Congress and the CPI is expected in Bachhwara. Both Awadhesh Rai of the CPI and Shivprakash Garibdas of the Congress have filed their nominations. Similarly, in Matihani, there are differences between the Congress, CPM, and RJD. CPM's Rajendra Prasad Singh will file his nomination again in Matihani, while Bogo Singh, who took the RJD symbol, has already filed his nomination.

Seats with overlap between RJD and Congress

Jale was a Congress seat last time. This time, the RJD has promised to give a ticket to Rishi Mishra, grandson of the late Lalit Narayan Mishra. Whereas, in Vaishali, Congress contested last time. This time, Tejashwi has inducted Ajay Kushwaha into the RJD and made him the candidate. Whereas in Lalganj, Congress contested last time. This time, the RJD is preparing to give a ticket to Munna Shukla's daughter.

In Warsaliganj, Congress contested last time. Now, RJD is fielding Ashok Mahto's wife. In Narkatiaganj, RJD wants a Yadav candidate, while Congress is insisting on a Brahmin candidate (Vinay Verma last time).In Warsaliganj, Congress contested last time. Now, RJD is  fielding Ashok Mahto's wife. In Narkatiaganj, RJD wants a Yadav candidate, while Congress is insisting on a Brahmin candidate (Vinay Verma last time).

Dispute between RJD and VIP

The RJD and VIP are locked in a dispute over the Gaurabauram and Simri Bakhtiyarpur seats. Last time, VIP's Mukesh Sahni lost to RJD's Yusuf Salauddin in Simri Bakhtiyarpur. This time, the RJD has again given Salauddin its symbol, while Mukesh Sahni himself wants to contest from here and is preparing to field his brother in Gaurabauram.