Patna: With the Bihar Assembly elections now officially announced, seat-sharing talks within the Grand Alliance (Mahagathbandhan) have entered a decisive stage, and the Left bloc has emerged as a key player in the negotiations.
On Tuesday, Communist Party of India (CPI) National General Secretary D. Raja met Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, the alliance convener and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader, at his residence in Patna to present the CPI’s list of 24 constituencies it wants to contest. The meeting, held in what sources described as a “cordial and constructive” atmosphere, also included CPI State Secretary Ramnaresh Pandey, National Secretary Sanjay Kumar, and National Council member Ajay Kumar Singh.
The CPI’s move follows earlier demands from other Left allies. The CPI(ML) has reportedly made it clear that it will not settle for fewer than 30 seats, while the CPM has sought 11. The combined Left bloc, which played a significant role in mobilising rural and working-class voters in the 2020 election, is now pushing for a larger share of constituencies to strengthen its footprint in the 2025 polls.
Speaking to reporters at Patna airport, D. Raja expressed confidence in the Grand Alliance’s unity and electoral prospects. “The people of Bihar are firmly with the Grand Alliance,” he said. “We are confident of winning the upcoming elections. As for the Chief Ministerial candidate, there is no dispute. The decision will be made collectively and amicably.”
Asked whether the CPI was disappointed by the slow progress in seat-sharing talks, Raja said his party expected a “respectable” number of seats within the coalition. “We have submitted our list, and we are confident that our contribution to people’s struggles and movements will be recognised,” he added.
When questioned about Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Sahni’s recent remarks on his own party’s seat expectations, the CPI leader declined to comment, saying, “We do not wish to speak on this issue. Our focus is on strengthening the Grand Alliance.”
The Grand Alliance currently includes the RJD, Congress, CPI(ML), CPI, CPM, and the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP). Analysts say that how the alliance manages its internal seat-sharing negotiations could significantly impact its ability to challenge the ruling NDA led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
