Rahul Gandhi dials Lalu Yadav to resolve Bihar seat-sharing deadlock

Rahul Gandhi dials Lalu Yadav to resolve Bihar seat-sharing deadlock

Patna / New Delhi — In what is being seen as a high-stakes intervention, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, along with party president Mallikarjun Kharge, has reportedly contacted RJD patriarch Lalu Prasad Yadav by phone in a bid to break the impasse over seat allocation in Bihar’s upcoming assembly elections. 

The deadlock: Congress vs RJD over numbers

The Mahagathbandhan (or “Grand Alliance”) in Bihar is facing a serious internal standoff over how many seats the Congress should contest. The RJD, which has historically been the dominant partner in the alliance, had proposed offering 52 seats to the Congress, but that was rejected by Congress, which is now demanding 60 seats. 

Earlier, state-level negotiations did not yield a breakthrough, and internal tensions have only grown sharper as nomination deadlines draw closer. 

As sources suggest, the failure of state-level talks has elevated the matter to the national leadership of both parties, hence the call to Lalu Prasad. 

Why Lalu Yadav’s role is pivotal

Lalu Prasad remains a central power-wielder in Bihar politics and within the RJD. Though many of the day-to-day responsibilities are handled by his son Tejashwi Yadav, Lalu’s presence still commands loyalty and influence in several party factions. Observers believe that resolving the deadlock will require Lalu’s personal intervention to bend internal resistance and promote a compromise. 

It is also telling that prior to this, Lalu had stepped in to chair key internal meetings of the RJD parliamentary board to align the party’s internal stand on alliances.

Stakes are high, timeline tight

With the Bihar assembly elections scheduled on November 6 and November 11, and counting on November 14, time is of the essence. 

A fractured or poorly negotiated seat-sharing pact could weaken the Mahagathbandhan’s prospects and hand the initiative back to the NDA. As of now, no formal announcement of a final seat allocation has been made. 

Allies such as the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) — which is part of the INDIA bloc — have also staked claims for seats in Bihar, pushing the arithmetic further. 

Challenges to watch

• Internal resistance within RJD: Some party leaders may resist conceding too many seats to the Congress, fearing erosion of their own base.
• Congress expectations: The Congress feels justified in its demand, citing past performance and wanting a more meaningful role.
• Alliance optics: The ability to project unity will be crucial in campaigning; any public squabble could be damaging.
• Timing constraints: With deadlines approaching, any delay could disrupt candidate nominations and campaign logistics.

What to expect next

• A face-to-face meeting between Rahul Gandhi, Kharge, Tejashwi Yadav, and Lalu is likely, possibly in New Delhi.
• One of them will likely have to blink — either Congress trims its demand or RJD concedes more seats.
• A formal seat-sharing agreement is expected imminently, to enable coordinated campaigning and filing of nominations.