The last date for filing nominations for the first phase of Bihar Assembly elections is 17th October, i.e. now only 2 days are left. But the grand alliance (alliance of RJD, Congress, Left parties and other smaller allies) has not yet announced the seat sharing. This delay is not only raising questions on the unity of the alliance, but is also benefiting the NDA (JDU-BJP-HAM). NDA announced the seat sharing on October 12 itself (101 seats each for JDU and BJP, 29 seats for LJP). However, it cannot be denied that there is still commotion in the NDA camp regarding some seats. But consensus has been reached on the main issues.
The biggest controversy in the Grand Alliance camp Congress Which is adamant on seats with RJD. Congress is demanding 70 seats (like 2020), while RJD is ready to give 52-58 seats. Meanwhile, there were reports that Congress is ready with 58 strong seats. But I don’t know why things went wrong again. Now only two days are left for the first phase of nomination, but the names of the candidates have not been decided yet. Apart from this, the issue of not declaring Tejashwi Yadav as the official face of the post of Chief Minister is also going on. Tejashwi is continuously declaring himself as the CM face but the ally Congress is not openly endorsing his name even once. Due to which uneasiness in the alliance cannot be denied. If we analyze the previous assembly elections, the Grand Alliance should have taken the lead this time. But Congress’s lateness is costing the alliance dearly.
Congress’s delay always proves costly for its allies.
Remember the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Samajwadi Party and Congress were contesting elections together here. Samajwadi Party had made all its preparations. Their candidates were also ready on all the seats. But Congress was getting delayed again and again. Akhilesh Yadav was forced to release the name of the SP candidate first. Even till the first phase of elections, no joint meeting of Samajwadi Party and Congress could be held so that the message goes among the public that both the parties are contesting the elections together. Somehow, a PC was held in Ghaziabad in a hurry, a day or two before the first phase of elections. Both Rahul and Akhilesh Yadav participated in PC.
Exactly the same situation is happening regarding Bihar assembly elections. Almost all the parties including RJD have decided their candidates. But the names of its candidates have not yet been revealed by Congress. Whereas only one day is left in the date of filing nomination for the first phase. Obviously this negligence is going to cost not only the Congress but the entire Grand Alliance.
Due to Congress, all the allies in Bihar are holding their breath. Without a clear picture on seat distribution, allies are forced to issue symbols to their candidates. RJD has so far released a total of 71 candidates, while CPI (ML) has given symbols to candidates on 18 seats. CPI released the list of 6 candidates, claims to field candidates on 4 other seats after consent. RJD has so far given its consent to VIP on 12 seats. The situation so far in the Grand Alliance shows that the matter of seat sharing is stuck only because of Congress.
Rahul Gandhi a long trip abroad at the last moment
At a time when assembly elections are being held in an important state of the country, Rahul Gandhi’s 10-day foreign trip, i.e. at least 2 weeks leave, has cost the Grand Alliance including the Congress. At a time when the party was getting stronger in Bihar, Rahul Gandhi’s disappearance was no less than a shock for the Congress workers.
There is a controversy going on in Bihar over seat sharing of Grand Alliance. Congress is demanding more than 65 seats, while RJD wants to limit it to 55. Obviously, if Rahul Gandhi had lived in India, many rounds of talks would have taken place by now. Even if Rahul Gandhi himself had not participated in the talks, at least his presence would have influenced the decisions. This dispute could not be resolved in the absence of Rahul. The issue of declaring Tejashwi Yadav as the CM face is also pending.
Rahul’s ‘Voter Rights Yatra’ in Bihar had helped in uniting Dalit-Muslim votes. But after his trip abroad, publicity from Congress is missing. Even Priyanka Gandhi is seen away from the election field.
NDA intensified the campaign by declaring seat sharing (101-101) on October 12, while the Grand Alliance workers are confused. #RahulMissingInBihar kept trending on X, where users were saying that Rahul is absconding in Bihar elections, roadmap for defeat of Grand Alliance!. BJP leader Amit Malviya taunted that Rahul is learning coffee brewing in Colombia, while the Grand Alliance is losing in Bihar.
Taking Stalin who is going to ban Hindi in Tamil Nadu to Bihar
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin’s DMK government is going to introduce a bill which will ban Hindi films, songs and hoardings in the state. The move was against the Centre’s three-language formula and the National Education Policy (NEP), which the DMK considers ‘imposition of Hindi’. This is the same Stalin whom Rahul Gandhi had brought just two weeks ago to campaign in favor of the Grand Alliance in Bihar. However, even before this the Stalin government has been accused of misbehaving with Biharis and calling Hinduism dengue malaria. This was the reason why BJP and Janata Dal U had opposed Stalin’s visit to Bihar.
But Stalin is also no less. They too are not worried about India Block. If this had happened then the anti-Hindi people would have taken their decision even after the Bihar elections. But it has come to light how much he also cares about Congress. Congress had also called Telangana CM Revanth Reddy for Bihar election campaign. Remember, this is the same Revanth Reddy who thinks the DNA of Bihar is messed up. Obviously BJP, JDU and Jansuraj have enough material to make Rahul a villain.
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