PATNA: Tension has surfaced within Bihar’s opposition alliance, the Mahagathbandhan, after its heavy defeat in the recent assembly elections. The ruling NDA secured more than two hundred seats in the two hundred and forty-three member Assembly, prompting introspection and open criticism among opposition partners.
The strain became evident when Congress leaders, returning from a review meeting in Delhi, publicly stated that many within the party believed it should have contested independently rather than alongside the Rashtriya Janata Dal. According to these leaders, the alliance arrangement with the RJD, its long-standing but dominant partner, may have weakened the Congress’s position in several constituencies.
Shakeel Ahmed Khan, the Congress legislative party leader in the outgoing Assembly, was among the first to speak about the discontent. He said the view he presented in Delhi reflected “the sentiment of most of the sixty-one candidates”, of whom only six managed to win. His remarks triggered unease within the alliance and revived questions about whether the Mahagathbandhan structure needs re-evaluation.
Congress functionaries have argued that their party’s electoral prospects were constrained by seat-sharing decisions and campaign strategies largely steered by the RJD. Some leaders suggested that voters could not clearly identify the Congress’s own agenda during the campaign.
The RJD has yet to issue a detailed response, though party insiders indicated they considered the statements premature and unhelpful at a time when the opposition should be regrouping. Discussions within both parties are expected to continue over the coming days as they assess the reasons behind the defeat and consider future strategy.
