INDIA Bloc Faces Internal Strife Ahead of Bihar Elections

The opposition alliance known as the INDIA bloc is experiencing significant internal turmoil as the high-stakes elections in Bihar approach. The coalition has struggled to finalize a seat-sharing agreement, leading to a fragmented strategy just days before the nomination deadline ended on October 23, 2023. This lack of cohesion has drawn criticism from rival parties, particularly the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which is prepared to capitalize on the discord.

The main player in Bihar, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), announced its list of 143 candidates mere hours before the nomination period closed for the second and final phase of elections. In the previous assembly election, the RJD contested 144 seats. The Congress party, another key ally in the bloc, has independently released the names of candidates for 61 seats across five lists, despite having contested 70 seats in the last election, where it managed to secure only 19 seats.

One area where the opposition alliance found common ground was in the Kutumba constituency, where the RJD chose not to field a candidate, allowing state Congress president Rajesh Kumar Ram to file his nomination instead. However, the INDIA bloc is already facing a barrage of criticism from the NDA for failing to reach a consensus on seat-sharing, a situation made worse by the absence of a joint press conference to announce any agreement.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to launch his campaign on October 24, 2023, and is expected to highlight the opposition’s inability to unite effectively against the NDA. The INDIA bloc comprises several parties, including the RJD, Congress, and smaller parties like the CPI (ML), CPI, CPI (M), and the VIP led by Mukesh Sahani.

Competitive Landscape and RJD’s Strategy

The current electoral landscape shows RJD and Congress engaging in what can be described as “friendly fights” in six constituencies where both parties have put forth their candidates. These include Narkatiganj, Lalganj, Vaishali, Sultanganj, Kahalgaon, and Sikandra. The RJD has also fielded nominees in constituencies that the Congress contested in 2020, such as Bihariganj and Warisaliganj. In Bachwara, a Congress candidate will face off against a CPI nominee.

The challenges facing the alliance have been exacerbated by a recent setback in Tarapur, where Sakaldev Bind, a candidate from the VIP, defected to the BJP. His withdrawal from the nomination process, alongside his supporters, strengthens the BJP’s position in Tarapur, where deputy chief minister and BJP leader Samrat Chaudhary is contesting. The RJD has also nominated Arun Shah in the same constituency.

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav is set to contest from his traditional stronghold of Raghopur, with a total of 41 sitting MLAs being renominated. Among the notable figures included in the list are former minister Chandra Shekhar, Yusuf Salahuddin, and Chandrahas Choupal. The party has made a strategic decision to drop 36 sitting MLAs, opting instead to promote younger leaders, including the youth wing president Rajesh Yadav, who will replace the sitting MLA in Dinara.

Among the candidates announced by the RJD, over 35 belong to the Yadav (OBC) community, while 18 are from the Muslim community. The party has nominated 20 candidates from Scheduled Castes (SC) and one from the Scheduled Tribe (ST). Additionally, the RJD has included 24 women candidates in its lineup.

Notably, the RJD has given a ticket to Shahnawaz Alam, son of late party leader Taslimuddin, for the Jokihat seat, previously held by the AIMIM. Another significant nomination is Osama Shahab, the son of former RJD figure Mohammad Shahabuddin, who will contest in Raghunathpur, replacing the sitting legislator Harishankar Yadav.

As the elections draw closer, the internal conflicts within the INDIA bloc could significantly impact its overall effectiveness and appeal to voters, making the upcoming polls a crucial test for the coalition’s future in Bihar.