Bihar Election 2025: INDIA Bloc eyes wider social reach in Bihar, seat talks heat up
INDIA bloc
, there is a growing feeling to look for ways to expand the alliance's social electoral base beyond the
RJD
's by-now saturated Yadav-Muslim (Y-M) core base. This, according to sources, has led to hectic bargaining among some existing allies and negotiations with potential new entrants, which have also put pressure on Congress to settle for fewer seats than the 70 it fought in 2020 only to win just 17 seats.
"The INDIA bloc allies have already exchanged their respective wish lists and now we are in inter-party negotiations. There is a feeling that we need to expand our alliance to appeal to more social segments and that some allies will have to be realistic this time and need to show accommodation", said a senior alliance leader.
While Congress leaders are maintaining it's too early to quote its share of seats, there are indications of them having to right-seize their scale to a 45-55 range given allies' pressure. With Bihar Congress now on Rahul Gandhi-led social justice plank, allies are debating whether the party has gained any new base among OBC-EBCs (from RJD/JD(U) hold) or, it will end up losing the remains of upper caste support.
Negotiations are on with at least three smaller parties for wooing aggregating social segments. JMM, which leads the ruling INDIA bloc in Jharkhand, is seeking entry into Bihar Opposition alliance by claiming influence in some seats bordering Jharkhand.
The Mukesh Sahni-led VIP, which appeals to fishermen-boatmen communities and won 4 seats in NDA alliance in 2020, is negotiating with INDIA bloc by seeking over 10 seats. With NDA housing two Dalit parties - Chirag Paswan-led LJP(RV) and Jitan ram Manjhi-led HAM (and BSP on its own course), the Opposition's need to project a Dalit ally has led to talks with Pashupati Paras-led RLJP despite its uncertain electoral potential.
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Existing ally, the CPI-ML, which sprung the best strike rate in 2020 by winning 12 of 19 seats it fought, is seeking around 30 odd seats this time by citing its growing base and vote-transfer capacity, it is learnt. The alliance leader RJD (which fought 140 plus seats last time) is also being tested on the bargaining table.
"Given RJD's saturation at winning 75-80 seats in past two Assembly polls, its poor show in LS election and its need for a larger social-electoral reach in this make-or-break election, will also have to make some space this time for accommodating allies ", said an alliance partner. The CPI and CPI-M may settle for about 6 plus seats each.
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