Mahagathbandhan press breifing in Patna cancelled; Opposition's future in Bihar remains uncertain

The Mahagathbandhan or Grand Alliance of the RJD, Congress, HAM, RLSP and others in Bihar was once again to forge consensus on Thursday as its press briefing that was scheduled at 6 PM was cancelled just minutes before it was to begin. While the Congress said that it had been given a raw deal, RJD heir-apparent Tejeshwi Yadav said that Congress must keep its ego aside in chalking out a deal in Bihar. The press briefing where the alliance is to announce its list of candidates is now scheduled for Friday 10 AM.

Sources said that the Mahagathbandhan leaders will announce the seat-sharing and the list, even if the Congress does not participate. The political crisis among the opposition is over the seat allocation. While the Congress wants to contest from the Nalanda, Madhubani and Darbhanga seats, the RJD and HAM wish to field their own candidates from the seat. Congress also wants Ranjeet Ranjan, its candidate from Supaul and wife of Pappu Yadav to persuade her husband not to file his candidature from Madhepura. Kanhaiya Kumar, former Student Union President at JNU is contesting from Begusarai from CPI ticket and has also shared the stage with Tejeshwi in an election rally at Araria. On the other hand, Pappu Yadav who was elected in 2014 on RJD ticket but was expelled by Lalu Yadav floated his Jan Adhikar Party Loktantrik has said that Tejeshwi is scared of people like him and Kanhaiya. 

At the other end, sitting MP in Darbhanga and cricketer-turned-politician Kirti Azad said that it shows the entire party in a poor light if the sitting MP is not allowed to contest. But RJD wishes to field its veteran leader Abdul Bari Siddiqui from the seat. In an embarrassment to RJD, the alleged internal conflict between Tej Pratap and Tejeshwi Yadav also surfaced on the same day as Tej Pratap resigned as a mentor of party's student wing. Tejeshwi also cancelled his rally in Katihar citing health issues. 

The Bihar Lok Sabha has 40 seats and the BJP-JDU led NDA has already announced a list of 39 candidates in the state on Saturday, March 23.