Initial counting from Bihar’s two-phase polls indicates another weak performance by the Congress, prompting renewed debate over whether the party is dragging down the Mahagathbandhan.
Early trends show Congress – contestant in 61 constituencies – leading in only around 10 to 11 seats. This is a drop of eight to nine seats from its previous tally, reflecting a continuation of its poor electoral record in the state, reports NDTV.
Within the alliance, Tejashwi Yadav’s RJD is faring considerably better, leading in 58 of its 143 seats. Among the Left partners, CPI(ML) Liberation is ahead in three of the 20 seats it contested, while CPI is leading in one of nine.
The Vikasheel Insaan Party (VIP), which contested 12 seats, is showing a lead in only one. The other Left allies – the India Inclusive Party (IIP) and the CPI(M) – contesting three and four seats respectively, are currently not leading anywhere.
In the previous 2020 Assembly elections, RJD emerged as the largest single party with 75 seats. Congress, however, won only 19 of the 70 constituencies allotted to it, weakening the alliance and paving the way for the NDA to form government.
The NDA crossed the majority mark in the 243-member Assembly, led by the BJP’s 74 seats and JD(U)’s 43.
If the present numbers hold, Congress may once again undercut the alliance’s overall performance.
This year, the Opposition coalition comprises RJD, Congress, and the Left parties. The NDA front includes BJP, JD(U), Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM), and Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM).
Congress, meanwhile, has pushed back against the emerging narrative, alleging that the ruling BJP is engaging in “vote chori” and insisting that the early trends may not reflect the final outcome.
