Bihar Polls 2025: The opposition Mahagathbandhan in Bihar has finalised its long-awaited seat-sharing arrangement for the upcoming Assembly elections. The Congress on Thursday released its first list of 48 candidates, while Mukesh Sahani’s Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) accepted the offer to contest on 15 seats, ending days of uncertainty within the alliance.
According to sources, in the 243-member Bihar Legislative Assembly, the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) [CPI(ML)] will contest on 20 seats, and the VIP has agreed to fight on 15. The detailed seat-sharing formula among the alliance partners is expected to be officially announced soon.
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Sahani’s Reconciliation Ends Deadlock
The development comes after intense negotiations between the alliance leaders. VIP chief Mukesh Sahani, 44, had earlier expressed dissatisfaction over the reduced number of seats offered to his party. Initially promised 35 seats, the VIP’s share was reduced to 25 and finally to 15. Despite the setback, Sahani said his decision to stay with the Mahagathbandhan was based on “ideological commitment” rather than numbers.
In a letter to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Sahani dismissed media reports suggesting his exit from the alliance as “misinformation,” writing, “The issue is not the number of seats. I stand with the ideology that represents the socially deprived and backward classes.”
The crisis was resolved after CPI(ML) General Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya and Rahul Gandhi intervened. A direct phone call between Gandhi and Sahani reportedly sealed the truce, ensuring VIP’s continued presence in the INDIA bloc.
Congress Unveils First List
Alongside the resolution, the Congress announced its first list of 48 candidates. Party veteran Shakeel Ahmad Khan will contest from Kadwa, while Garib Das will represent Congress from Bachwara. Interestingly, CPI has also announced a candidate from Bachwara, making it a friendly contest within the INDIA bloc.
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Seat-Sharing Tensions with RJD
The deadlock within the Mahagathbandhan had also involved friction between the Congress and its main ally, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). The RJD, which won 75 seats in the 2020 Assembly polls, was reportedly keen on restricting the Congress to 55–58 seats, while the Congress had been demanding closer to 70, citing its 2020 performance.
The stalemate broke after Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge personally reached out to RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, paving the way for a final understanding.
Bihar Elections 2025
The Bihar Assembly elections for 243 seats will be held in two phases — on November 6 and November 11 — with counting scheduled for November 14.
