With only one day left to file nominations for assembly seats in Bihar going to polls in phase 1, the Mahagathbandhan is yet to announce its seat-sharing arrangement.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and party leader Rahul Gandhi held seat-sharing talks with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) on Thursday. Congress leaders also spoke to RJD chief Lalu Yadav.
During the meeting, the former Bihar chief minister told Kharge and Rahul Gandhi that other allies need to be accommodated in the alliance, which he said is more important.
While there is no breakthrough in seat-sharing talks yet, several leaders from the RJD and Congress have already filed their nomination papers.
Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said, “The work is going on very well, symbols are being distributed. Those who have to file nominations are also doing so. The process has started… Very soon, the entire situation will be clear to everyone. The Mahagathbandhan government is going to be formed. Why is the NDA raising questions? They should think about themselves."
Mahagathbandhan partner Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) had earlier announced a list of 18 candidates for the Bihar elections.
The last day of filing nominations for the first phase of the assembly polls in Bihar is October 17.
A total of 121 out of 243 seats will go to the polls in the first phase on November 6, while voting for the remaining seats will be held on November 11. The counting of votes will take place on November 14.
The ruling NDA has already declared seat distribution among its constituents. As per the pact, the BJP and JD(U) will contest 101 seats each, the LJP (Ram Vilas) 29 seats, and the Rashtriya Lok Morcha and Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) six seats each. The NDA constituents have announced candidates on almost all 243 seats.
