There is a stir in NDA-MGB before Bihar elections, threat on the last date of nomination:

News India Live, Digital Desk: Bihar Assembly Election: The activities for Bihar Assembly elections are intensifying, but the major political alliances – NDA And Grand Alliance (MGB) – No consensus has been reached yet on seat sharing. This issue has now turned into a major hurdle, due to which the possibility of delay in the election nomination process has increased. Many parties are involved in both the camps, and everyone is staking claim on their share of seats, due to which it is proving difficult to reach a mutual consensus.

Main parties of NDA and MGB and their challenge:

1. National Democratic Alliance (NDA):

• red Faction: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Janata Dal United (JDU), Lok Janshakti Party (LJP – now in two factions, Chirag Paswan and Pashupati Paras’ camp), Upendra Kushwaha’s Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM).
• challenge: JDU and BJP, being the largest parties, are contenders for more seats. It is also a big challenge for BJP to woo both the factions of LJP, because both want their share of seats. It is important for NDA to please leaders like Upendra Kushwaha.
• Current status: Brainstorming is going on regarding seats, but it is becoming difficult to reach a consensus because all the allies want more seats.

2. Grand Alliance (MGB):

• red Faction: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Congress (INC), Left parties (CPIML, CPI, CPM), Mukesh Sahni’s Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) – although their relations have been a bit complicated.
• challenge: RJD is putting forward its point as the largest party, due to which Congress and Left parties are not satisfied. Congress is demanding its traditional seats and more seats than last time, but RJD is ready to give them less seats. The stand of VIP is also not clear, they want their share.
• Current status: Here too internal discord and tussle continues. There is pressure on the leadership of Tejashwi Yadav regarding seat distribution.

Danger of delay in enrolment:

After the election notification is issued, the nomination process has to be completed within a certain time limit. If the political parties are not able to decide on the seats till the last moment, it will have a direct impact on the nomination of the candidates.

• Less preparation time: Candidates will get very little time to prepare for election campaign and nomination if their seat and party position is not clear.
• Problem of rebels: If not getting seats, dissatisfied leaders can rebel and contest elections as independent, which will cause loss to both the alliances.

It is clear that for both the NDA and the Grand Alliance, seat distribution has now become not just a time of ‘waiting’ but a time of ‘testing’. The alliance which resolves this issue peacefully and on time is likely to get an edge in the election battle of Bihar.