Sun Oct 12 16:33:32 UTC 2025: **News Article:**

**Mahagathbandhan Leaders to Convene in Delhi Amidst Seat-Sharing Disagreements for Bihar Assembly Elections**

**New Delhi – October 12, 2025** – Leaders of the Mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) are scheduled to meet in Delhi on Monday, October 13, 2025, to finalize their seat-sharing agreement for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections. The meeting comes as the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has already announced its seat-sharing formula, putting pressure on the Mahagathbandhan to resolve its internal disagreements.

The key figures expected to attend include Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav, and Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) chief Mukesh Sahani. Sahani expressed concerns about the alliance’s health before departing for Delhi, stating that the coalition is “unwell” and he hopes to find a “cure” in the capital.

Adding complexity to the situation, RJD supremo Lalu Prasad, his wife Rabri Devi, and son Tejashwi Yadav have also arrived in Delhi to attend a court hearing on Monday related to the land-for-jobs scam.

Sources indicate friction within the Mahagathbandhan. The CPI(ML) seeks a larger seat share than the 19 it contested in 2020, a demand the RJD, the senior partner, has been reluctant to fully accommodate. Other left parties, including CPI and CPI(M), have also expressed disappointment with the incentives offered.

CPI general secretary D. Raja revealed that he has appealed to Rahul Gandhi for both the RJD and Congress to be more accommodating towards their allies.

The Congress and the RJD are yet to reach a final agreement on their own seat division. While Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh stated the party aims for a “respectable and acceptable” number of seats, no specific figure has been disclosed. Insiders suggest the Congress is prepared to contest fewer seats than the 70 it fielded in the 2020 elections, focusing on approximately 25 “quality” seats with a higher chance of victory.

The Congress party’s Central Election Committee (CEC) convened on October 8 and reportedly approved candidates for 25 constituencies. A second CEC meeting is scheduled for Monday.

The delay in finalizing the seat-sharing arrangement has caused unease within the Congress state unit and among other alliance partners. The outcome of Monday’s meeting will be crucial in determining the Mahagathbandhan’s prospects in the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections.

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