The bigger constituents of the alliance — Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Congress — are yet to finalise the seat sharing formula
Even as the bigger constituents of the Mahagathbandhan in Bihar fail to agree on a seat sharing agreement for the Lok Sabha polls, the smaller parties of the Opposition alliance are now facing unrest from within.
The bigger constituents of the alliance — Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Congress — are yet to finalise the seat sharing formula. "RJD is rigid on contesting 20 of the 40 seats. But, we are in no mood to play the second fiddle, especially after the recent victories in Assembly elections in three states," said a Congress leader.
The question of accommodating the Left parties, Sharad Yadav and Vikasshil Insan Party is also unanswered so far, but the delay is making smaller alliance partners uncomfortable and political observers feel they may start looking at other options if a decision is not reached soon.
On the other hand, two significant smaller alliance partners — former Bihar chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi's Hindustani Awam Morcha-Secular (HAM-S) and former Union minister Upendra Kushwaha's Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) — are witnessing infighting and some senior functionaries of both parties have either quit or been asked to leave over the last few days.
Manjhi's HAM(S) seems to be a divided group after its state president and former Bihar minister Brishen Patel and national spokesperson Danish Rizwan tendered their resignations from the party after making allegations and counter allegations against each other. HAM(S) was formed by Manjhi after he broke away from the Janata Dal (United) and Manjhi is the lone MLA representing it.
"Rizwan had alleged that Patel had misappropriated party funds as well as indulging in anti-party activities, and then resigned from his post. Rizwan is also said to have made anti-party comments when he took a different stand from that of Manjhi over the recent West Bengal face-off between the government and CBI," a party source said.
Kushwaha's RLSP, which has faced factionism before with MP Arun Kumar floating a separate political outfit, witnessed trouble after party's working president Nagmani appreciated Bihar CM Nitish Kumar. He was relieved from his post and a show-cause notice was issued against him. All RLSP MLAs and MLCs have already sided with the National Democratic Alliance, leaving Kushwaha as the only prominent leader in the party.
Kirti Azad in Congress
Cricketer-turned-politician Kirti Azad, a suspended BJP MP from Darbhanga, is likely to join the Congress on February 15 in the presence of its national president Rahul Gandhi. Azad, a three-time MP from Darbhanga, is likely to contest the 2019 polls from there on a Congress ticket. Azad was suspended from the BJP for anti-party activities and was most certain to be denied a ticket this term.
Split wide open
- HAM(S) seems to be divided after its state chief Brishen Patel and national spokesperson Danish Rizwan tendered their resignations.
- RLSP witnessed trouble after working chief Nagmani lauded Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, and was thereafter relieved from his post.
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