Bihar elections: Left parties mount pressure on RJD, Congress

Ravi S Singh
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, September 3

Three Left parties have mounted pressure on the main constituents of the “Mahagathbandhan” in Bihar, the RJD and the Congress, to finalise the seats for them in their alliance for the upcoming Assembly election in the state.

The CPI, the CPI(M) and the CPI(ML) have announced joining the RJD-led Mahagathbhandhan (Grand alliance) in Bihar.

“We are trying to persuade the RJD leadership to finalise the details of seat-sharing formula with the Left parties so that they could prepare better for the election,” a Left leader said.

The RJD and the Congress have yet to take a call on the number of seats that would be given to the Left parties. Talks among them are in progress.

Sources say the issue would be clinched any day after September 11.

The seat-sharing formula will need the final seal of approval of former Bihar Chief Minister Laloo Prasad, who is presently serving jail term in the fodder scam.

A national CPI(M) leader who is involved with his party’s affairs in the state, said the three left parties have provided their list of names of seats they want to contest to the RJD.

The cumulative number of seats they have pitched is about 60 out of a total of 243 in the state Assembly.

The Left parties are determined as other opposition parties to oust the ruling JD(U)-BJP from power. RJD leadership had pushed for the Left parties joining the alliance led by it.

As per the arrangement, the RJD and the Congress will part from their share of seats to Left parties and other smaller constituent allies.

The opposition parties are optimistic of turning the tables on the JD(U) and Bihar in the election on account of the alleged public resentment against the government’s handling of floods, COVID pandemic and the low ebb in the economy.