The Grand Alliance forged by the Congress and the RJD for the upcoming Bihar elections is facing challenges as seat-sharing talks have reached an impasse. The Congress has expressed discontent over the RJD unilaterally deciding on candidates for first-phase seats, while the RJD is not willing to concede to the Congress’s demand for more than 10 tickets. Several senior Congress leaders have criticized the RJD for violating coalition norms, with some even threatening to end the alliance. The friction between the two parties could have damaging consequences for the opposition in the crucial state of Bihar.
Congress-RJD Alliance in Bihar: Current Impasse and Historical Context
Background
The Indian National Congress (INC) and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) formed a "Grand Alliance" in Bihar in 2015 to challenge the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The alliance proved successful, leading to the defeat of the NDA in the 2015 Bihar Legislative Assembly election.
However, the alliance has faced challenges in recent years, particularly during the 2020 Bihar Legislative Assembly election. Seat-sharing talks between the INC and RJD reached an impasse, with the INC expressing discontent over the RJD's unilateral decision-making on candidates. The INC also demanded more than 10 tickets, a request that the RJD was hesitant to accept.
Current Impasse
The current impasse between the INC and RJD has raised concerns about the future of the Grand Alliance in Bihar. Several senior Congress leaders have criticized the RJD for violating coalition norms, and some have even threatened to end the alliance.
The RJD has defended its position, arguing that it is the larger party in the alliance and should have the final say in seat allocation. The RJD has also accused the INC of being greedy and unwilling to share the spotlight.
Potential Consequences
The friction between the INC and RJD could have significant consequences for the opposition in Bihar. A fractured alliance would make it more difficult to challenge the ruling NDA, which has a strong presence in the state.
Top 5 FAQs
1. What is the cause of the current impasse between the INC and RJD?
The impasse stems from disagreements over seat allocation during the upcoming Bihar elections.
2. Why is the INC unhappy with the RJD's decision-making?
The INC believes that the RJD has acted unilaterally in deciding on candidates and is not willing to give the INC a fair share of seats.
3. What is the RJD's position on the impasse?
The RJD argues that it is the larger party in the alliance and should have the final say on seat allocation.
4. What are the potential consequences of the impasse?
A fractured alliance could weaken the opposition in Bihar and make it difficult to challenge the ruling NDA.
5. What is the historical context of the INC-RJD alliance?
The INC and RJD have been allies in the past, particularly during the 2015 Bihar elections. However, the alliance has faced challenges in recent years.
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