Nitish Kumar-led JD(U), the major stakeholder of the INDIA bloc, threw a spanner into the ongoing process of talks over seat sharing between the Congress and other constituents of the coalition on Monday.

The allocation of seats has become pivotal for the Congress after the recent setback in the Assembly polls when the party had planned to flex its muscles but had to settle with only one spectacular win in Telangana. Major stakeholders like TMC, Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena, and now the JD(U-RJD combine have asserted their intention to contest on more seats.

Simultaneously, JD(U) has also questioned why the Congress is organising a Yatra of its own instead of turning it into a show of strength by the entire Opposition. The remark refers to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra scheduled to be undertaken from January 14 to March 20.

Senior JD(U) leader and party spokesman KC Tyagi said that the Congress should focus where it is strong and should not press for States like Bihar where JD(U) and RJD are strong. Congress is part of an alliance with JD(U), RJD, and left parties in the Nitish Kumar-led Government in Bihar.

It is allright for Congress to desire to contest on more seats where they are strong, but it is completely impractical if they demand more seats in States where they are not in a powerful position,” Tyagi said.

He mentioned that both the ruling alliance partners — JD(U and RJD — are strong and in a position to counter the BJP in Bihar, hence there will be no compromise on this.

Nitish, who has been aiming to be the convener of the bloc, axed his trusted man Lalan Singh from the post of the party’s presidentship last week. The former is believed to be annoyed with the latter’s growing proximity to RJD and Congress. Nitish was also displeased when, in the last INDIA bloc meeting, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge became a talking point for the Prime Ministerial candidate.

In fact, Nitish had walked out from the NDA and was instrumental in forming the Opposition coalition with high ambitions to be the PM candidate against the BJP led by PM Narendra Modi.

JD(U) also expressed displeasure at the delay by Congress in appointing a convener for the INDIA bloc.

Tyagi said that Kharge’s announcement that the INDIA alliance would meet in “10 to 15 days” to decide appointments to key posts has not “been well-received” by the party. He noted that the INDIA bloc is “running out of time and ideas” to counter the BJP.

Tyagi emphasised that while the BJP has gained an advantage over the Opposition with a significant build-up for the Ram Temple inauguration, the Opposition also needs to present a compelling counter-narrative, especially regarding the demand for a caste census and other issues.

In preparation for the 2024 Lok Sabha election, Congress has initiated seat-sharing talks in some States with like-minded parties within the INDIA bloc. Sources indicate that senior leaders of the party have been instructed to engage with leaders from other alliance parties, and talks with some parties have already commenced

The Congress National Alliance Committee discussed the seat-sharing formula for Bihar with RJD Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Jha on Sunday. The meeting took place at the residence of Congress leader and convener of the Congress National Alliance Committee, Mukul Wasnik, in the national capital. NAC members Ashok Gehlot and Salman Khurshid were also present.

Additionally, Congress leaders held a meeting with functionaries of the JMM’s Odisha unit to discuss the sharing of seats for the Lok Sabha elections and Assembly polls, which are being held simultaneously in the state.

Sources indicate that this was the preliminary round of meetings, involving an exchange of views on the strengths and weaknesses of both parties, as well as major stakeholders like JD(U and other INDIA bloc partners in the State. “It was a meeting between the Congress and RJD, and similar separate meetings will be held between the Congress and JD(U and Left partners. Reaching a consensus on such aspects takes time as it is a tedious process considering the minutest of electoral factors,” explained a Congress office bearer.