In a bold move, Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) has openly laid claim to 16 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar, refusing seat-sharing talks with Congress within the opposition’s INDIA (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance). While asserting its position, JD(U) emphasized a strong stance and discussions solely with Lalu Prasad’s Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).
“We have 16 Lok Sabha MPs, and we will contest on all these seats. However, the final seat-sharing arrangement is yet to be finalized. There is no question of contesting less than 16 seats,” stated Bihar’s Rural Development Minister Sanjay Kumar Jha. The JD(U) also dismissed seat-sharing discussions with other ruling alliance partners, including Congress.
This move by JD(U) may serve as a strategic pressure tactic on Congress to appoint Nitish Kumar as the convener of the INDIA bloc. The party leaders have openly advocated for Nitish Kumar as the Prime Ministerial face of the opposition alliance.
Bihar, with 40 Lok Sabha seats, witnessed JD(U) winning 16 in the 2019 elections when it was an ally of the BJP within the NDA (National Democratic Alliance). The current scenario poses challenges, given the contest against RJD and Congress in some seats in 2019. The JD(U) expressed dissatisfaction with the delay in seat-sharing talks within the INDIA bloc.
JD(U) National General Secretary Sanjay Kumar Jha, attending INDIA bloc meetings, lamented the wasted time but expressed hope for finalizing seat-sharing by the end of January. Bihar joins West Bengal and Maharashtra, where differences among INDIA partners have surfaced publicly.
