Lalu Yadav, Nitish Kumar
– Photo: SELF
Expansion
Janata Dal (United), the party uniting parties across the country against the Bharatiya Janata Party government at the Center led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is united in a case. He has made it clear that he will not compromise on the 16 seats he won. It had fielded candidates on 17 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. See JDU’s line – “JDU also wants 16-17 seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. After this, 23-24 seats are left out of 40, which RJD has to distribute among its allies.” Meaning, apart from JDU, whatever division will happen in the grand alliance government of Bihar, it should be done by Rashtriya Janata Dal. This is a kind of mid-stream situation for RJD. If RJD, the largest party in the state assembly, agrees with JDU, the smallest party in power, then it will have to face the Congress-Left parties and will also have to withdraw its hands from the potential parties including Vikassheel Insaan Party. If all this is not done then the injury received from JDU will have to be treated itself.
Where did JDU leave RJD in seat sharing?
JDU leader KC Tyagi said in Delhi that apart from the 16 won seats, JDU has a total of 17 seats including the second seat. In Patna, the most senior minister of JDU quota, Bijendra Yadav also talked about 17 seats. According to information received from JDU’s inner circle, the party will not make any compromise on the 16 won seats. Ultimately the Chief Minister himself and the party’s National President Nitish Kumar will say this, but right now he is keeping an eye on the coordination between RJD-Congress. Left parties are also included in the 23-24 seats that RJD has to divide. On Monday, D. Raja also met Nitish Kumar in Patna to express the concern of the Left parties. But, it is being told that JDU is not ready for any compromise on the seats won. Meaning, RJD is left with no option but to distribute the remaining seats among the other parties.
The oldest party of the country and the largest party of the state is in worry.
Due to INDIA formula of opposition parties, it was certain that seat sharing would happen in Bihar and that is exactly what happened. The oldest party of the country seems to be the most powerful in Indi Alliance and accordingly it wants representation. Congress has demanded 10-11 seats. Congress had won one seat in 2019. The alliance of Lok Janshakti Party with BJP-JDU had won the remaining 39 seats. LJP will talk with BJP on seats, but this time JDU has to talk with RJD. And, this thing is also going on. RJD is the largest party in the state assembly and also in the government. JDU is the third party in the state assembly, but in terms of Lok Sabha seats won, it is the second party after BJP. So, this is a dilemma. There is concern among the Left parties due to the problems of Congress and RJD and the small parties and groups that have taken camp here or there just before the upcoming elections are also in a dilemma.
What can happen now, see the possibilities
JDU leaders are externally talking about 17 seats, but they will finally agree to 16 seats. Out of the remaining 24 seats, RJD will contest 16 seats under any circumstances. Fighting on a seat less than this will affect his reputation, which even the party’s national president Lalu Prasad Yadav will not tolerate. Meaning, eight seats will be left. It would not be surprising if Congress gets four to five seats and the Left gets divided among three to four seats. JDU has also given a direct lesson to Congress that JDU-RJD are decisive in Bihar, not you. Meaning, JDU is also under pressure to get Congress to compromise and RJD does not even have an option. Ultimately, if this path is not accepted by all, then opposition unity in the Lok Sabha elections will be limited to mere talk.
