In preparation for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the opposition’s INDIA group finalized the seat-sharing agreement in Bihar.
In preparation for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the opposition’s INDIA group finalized the seat-sharing agreement in Bihar. Purnea and Hajipur are two of the 26 seats from which the RJD will field candidates. The Left will battle for five seats, while the Congress will contest nine, including Kishanganj and Patna Sahib.
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Congress were in negotiations to share 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar, but Purnea and Katihar, two seats currently held by the Janata Dal (United), had become a subject of contention.
The Congress wants the Katihar seat, but there are still some unresolved difficulties. In a similar vein, despite the Congress’s insistence, the RJD is eager to challenge for the Purnea seat. A top RJD leader had previously stated, requesting anonymity, “Our party is ready to allot eight to nine seats to the Congress but we cannot give up our claim on Purnea.”
Days before, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav refuted reports of strained relations between his party and the Congress, stating that a deal had been reached over seat sharing for the Bihar Lok Sabha elections and that a statement on the matter will be made in Patna shortly.
Tejashwi declared that the RJD, the Congress, and the Left will fight the Lok Sabha elections in Bihar jointly after attending an INDIA bloc meeting on Tuesday at Congress leader Mukul Wasnik’s home in Parna. The discussion was about the state’s seat-sharing formula.
He said that all of the constituencies are receiving a fair deal and that the INDIA bloc partners have verbally agreed on the seat-sharing plan.
His comments coincide with news that the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance in Bihar is experiencing discord over seat sharing.
The RJD’s “unilateral” announcement of candidates for some Bihar seats that the Congress was interested in running for was reported to have angered the party.
The National Democratic Alliance, which is made up of the BJP, JD(U), and LJP, won 39 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
