Ashok Gehlot Meets Tejashwi Yadav to Address Bihar Seat Disputes

In a significant move to quell rising tensions within the Mahagathbandhan, Congress leader Ashok Gehlot visited the residence of Bihar’s Leader of Opposition, Tejashwi Yadav, in Patna on March 15, 2025. His visit aims to address concerns over seat-sharing arrangements ahead of the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections.

The Mahagathbandhan, a coalition comprising various parties including the Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), has experienced speculation regarding internal conflicts related to candidate nominations. To mitigate these tensions, Gehlot, appointed as Senior Election Observer by the All India Congress Committee (AICC), arrived in Patna accompanied by state Congress in-charge Krishna Allavaru.

Gehlot emphasized that while minor disputes are common in large alliances, they should not be overstated. He stated, “There is no dispute in Mahagathbandhan, focusing on 243 seats, and in such a large alliance, having differences over 5 to 10 seats is nothing unusual.” He further reiterated the coalition’s unity against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)), stating, “Mahagathbandhan remains firm against the BJP and JD(U).”

Tejashwi Yadav also downplayed the reported disagreements, asserting that “there are no disputes” and promised clarity on the matter by the following day. His comments were made during a press conference, where he indicated confidence in resolving any misunderstandings swiftly.

The RJD recently released a list of 143 candidates for the Bihar Assembly elections, including 24 women. This announcement came on the last day of nominations for the second phase of the elections. A review of the candidate lists from both the RJD and Congress reveals that there are overlapping interests in certain constituencies, indicating potential areas of contention despite their alliance.

As the political landscape in Bihar continues to evolve, the focus remains on how the Mahagathbandhan will navigate these challenges leading up to the elections. With Gehlot’s intervention, both parties appear keen to present a united front to their constituents as they prepare for a competitive electoral battle.