Rahul Gandhi, Kharge Reach Out to Lalu Yadav to Break Bihar Seat-Sharing Deadlock

As the deadline for nominations in the first phase of the Bihar Assembly elections approaches, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge have directly reached out to Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav to resolve the ongoing seat-sharing impasse within the Grand Alliance.

According to sources, the talks aim to finalise a consensus on the number of seats Congress will contest amid rising tensions between the two key allies. Initially, RJD offered Congress 52 seats, which the party rejected, demanding at least 60. The disagreement, mainly over traditional strongholds like Kahalgaon, Narkatiyaganj, and Vasaliganj, had stalled discussions at the state level, prompting intervention from national leaders.

The RJD has reportedly softened its stance, agreeing to 61 seats for Congress while insisting on retaining certain constituencies it considers crucial. Despite the compromise, uncertainty remains over whether the alliance can project unity before the nomination window closes.

Congress’s earlier assertiveness stemmed from renewed confidence following Rahul Gandhi’s Voter Adhikar Yatra, which the party believes has revived its political presence in Bihar. However, with time running out, both parties appear keen to avoid a public fallout that could weaken their joint prospects against the ruling NDA in the high-stakes elections.