Patna: The Mahagathbandhan alliance in Bihar convened an unscheduled meeting on Saturday, its first since the conclusion of the 16-day Voter Adhikar Yatra, to deliberate on seat-sharing arrangements for the upcoming assembly elections.
Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Prasad Yadav hosted the discussions at his official residence on One Polo Road, joined by Congress’s Bihar in-charge Krishna Allavaru, state Congress president Rajesh Ram, and Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) chief Mukesh Sahni. Alliance leaders said the talks were preliminary and no formal decisions were expected immediately.
“This is the first meeting of the Mahagathbandhan after the voter adhikar campaign,” Rajesh Ram told reporters, adding that any formal outcomes would be shared later.
The opposition coalition, comprising RJD, Congress, Left parties and smaller allies, last met on July 30. Previous rounds focused on issues such as coordination committees. With elections approaching, the bloc has restarted consultations, while the Congress is also conducting candidate screenings for all constituencies.
Seat-sharing remains contentious. Sahni is pressing for 60 seats, while Left parties are seeking a greater share than in 2020. CPI state secretary Ramnaresh Pandey said his party had not been given “respectable” representation last time and expected a stronger allocation this year. The CPI will further discuss its strategy during its state conference in Patna from September 8–12.
