JD(U), RJD put up ‘united’ poll show, swap winning seats

After several rounds of brainstorming over finalisation of a ‘winnable’ seat-sharing formula, the Mahagadbandhan, comprising the ruling Janata Dal-United (JD-U), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Congress, on Saturday announced the seat-sharing list for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections.

JD(U) state president Vashishtha Narayan Singh said: “JD(U) and RJD will contest 101 seats <g data-gr-id="32">each,</g> while Congress will contest 41 seats.”

Aiming to register a grand victory of the Mahagadbandhan, the JD(U) has ‘sacrificed’ several winning seats to keep the grand alliance intact. According to JD(U) spokesperson Neeraj Kumar, who has been fielded from Mokama constituency, all three partners of the grand alliance have mutually agreed to swap some of their winning seats, majority of which is of JD(U), to take on their arch rival NDA in the state polls, scheduled next month. 

“We have joined hands to win elections with absolute majority and giving away winning seats shows how united we are,” Kumar said, who is JD(U)’s nominee from Mokama seat, which has been represented by don-turned-MLA Anant Singh, who is in jail in an abduction-cum-murder case.

In total, JD(U) has given away 27 of its winning seats to RJD and 11 to Congress, while RJD has given its three winning seats – Babubarhi, Kochadhaman and Parbatta – to JD(U). Notably, Congress has not swapped any of its winning seats with its allies.

After analysing the result of 2010 Assembly polls, it has been noted that RJD is contesting on all seats, where its candidates stood second. Similar is the case with Congress, <g data-gr-id="38">while</g> in case of JD(U), the party is fielding candidates on most of the seats, which were won by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The 11 winning seats of JD(U) that the party has given to Congress are – Valmiki Nagar, Govindganj, Harlakhi, Manihari, Manjhi, Barbigha, Tarari, <g data-gr-id="49">Chenari</g>, Kutumba, Gobindpur and Sikandara.

Similarly, Nawada seat, which was won by JD(U)’s Purnima Yadav, has been given to RJD and the party is likely to field Raj Ballabh Yadav from this constituency. Also, Govindpur seat in Nawada district, which was won by JD(U)’s Kaushal Yadav has been given to Congress, while the JD(U) will field Kaushal from <g data-gr-id="42">Hisua</g> constituency, which has remained a stronghold of Congress’ <g data-gr-id="43">Adiyta</g> Singh, a <g data-gr-id="44">Bumihar</g>. The BJP has fielded two-time MLA Anil Singh, also a <g data-gr-id="45">Bumihar</g>, from this seat.

The JD(U) has retained Madhuban Assembly seat (dominated by Rajputs), where RJD’s Rana Randhir was the runner-up in the 2010 Assembly polls. 

Randhir has now joined BJP, which may pose a challenge to the grand alliance. RJD’s Kochadhaman (Kishanganj district) seat of has been given to JD(U). RJD’s <g data-gr-id="41">Akhatarul</g> Iman had defeated JD(U)’s Mujahid Alam by 9,025 in the last Assembly polls. 

Meanwhile, BJP’s campaign in Bihar got a boost with JD(U) MLA Satish Kumar, who had defeated former CM Rabri Devi from Raghopur constituency in 2010 elections, joining it on Saturday. BJP is likely to field him from Raghopur from where Prasad’s son Tejaswi Yadav is set to make his poll debut.