About 1,698 candidates filed nominations until Friday for the first phase of the Bihar assembly elections in 121 seats on November 6. However, the INDIA bloc hasn't sealed a seat deal yet.
Leaders across the opposition had to rush all over the state to their home districts and subdivisional offices to submit their nomination papers after the parties had formed a rough outline of an alliance around midnight on Thursday. On the final day of the nomination, the INDIA bloc had more than one nomination for a seat. While it was kind of smooth for NDA despite earlier differences related to the choice of constituencies.
As of now, there is no clarity over how the break-up of seats in the alliance would look. Until Friday, it has been known that the Congress has filed nominations for candidates across 48 seats, with 40 more for the two phases. The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has nominated for 40 seats, Mukesh Sahani's Vikassheel Insan Party on 15, and Left parties on six seats.
But senior Congress leaders dissipated any lack of coordination among the members of the Opposition bloc. Chhattisgarh CM and Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel said, "Everything will be fine, everything is running smoothly. There is no problem."
Things will clear up on the last date of withdrawal of nominations on October 20. The second phase of the elections is scheduled on November 11, while the results will be announced on November 14.
Meanwhile, Mukesh Sahani has nominated his elder brother, Santosh Sahani, to contest from his home constituency. He also demanded that the Opposition bloc declare his name as a Deputy Chief Ministerial candidate. However, it wasn't agreed. But, it has been known that RJD has assured him a Rajya Sabha seat and two legislative council seats if the INDIA bloc wins the election.
Afzal Ali Khan has filed the nomination from the same constituency, with the RJD symbol. The Gaura Bauram assembly seat has been allocated to the VIP, and RJD won't field any other candidate there.
In the four assembly seats, which include Vaishali, Jale, Lalganj, and Bachhwara, that were allocated to Congress, RJD, and Left parties, CPI, CPI (M), and CPI (ML) have also filed nominations. It is yet to be seen whether these parties will withdraw their nominations or not.
Serious discussions were on till Thursday, but a seat-sharing deal hasn't been finalized within the INDIA bloc. Further, whether Sahani is in full agreement with the seats offered or not.
Within the NDA camp, Home Minister Amit Shah convened a meeting with CM Nitish Kumar ahead of his election rally in Saran on Friday. Kumar's JD(U) and Chirag Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) have been at odds for a while. However, Shah clarified that NDA will contest under the leadership of Nitish Kumar. Several prominent faces of the BJP, including Union Ministers and Chief Ministers of states, joined for campaign of the alliance.