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Does the fragmented opposition in Bihar give the National Democratic Alliance the upper hand? Chirag Paswan argues that internal discord in the INDIA bloc amounts to walkovers—and there’s nothing “friendly” about these so‑called fights.
Chirag Paswan slams Mahagathbandhan, says there’s no such thing as a “friendly fight” in elections.
Patna: Union Minister and LJP (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan took aim at the INDIA alliance following the RJD’s announcement of 143 candidates for the upcoming Bihar elections. He asserted: “There is nothing called ‘friendly fight’. Either you are friends or you’re fighting each other. If you are targeting each other’s leaders and contesting the same seats, do you expect this won’t reflect elsewhere?”
He argued that the opposition’s inability to settle on seat‑sharing means they’re effectively giving the NDA major advantages.
The RJD’s first list covers 38 districts with nominations on 143 seats. Among the names: Tejashwi Yadav heading the Raghopur seat. However, candidate overlap with its partner Congress in several constituencies exposed cracks in the Mahagathbandhan’s coordination. According to the announced formula:
With Congress already naming candidates on 60 seats, tensions bubbled to the surface as RJD fielded candidates on seats claimed by other allies.
The 243‑member Bihar Legislative Assembly elections will be held in two phases: November 6 and November 11. Vote counting is set for November 14, with results announced the same day. Under the current scenario, Paswan suggests the fractured opposition may hand the NDA “walkovers” through internal clashes.
Paswan emphasised that when friendly allies contest against each other, the victim is the opposition’s vote base. He argued that such “friendly fights” are, in fact, undermining the Mahagathbandhan by splitting votes in key constituencies and allowing the ruling alliance to benefit.
On the other side, Paswan asserted that the NDA is moving with clarity and discipline. He highlighted his party’s contesting of 29 seats and insisted the alliance is cohesive and goal‑oriented. He contrasted this with the opposition’s internal strife, suggesting the spat may cost them dearly.
While Paswan’s critique draws attention to opposition infighting, the RJD and its allies maintain they are working through their internal mechanisms. A constituent, Surendra Rajput, put forth an alternate narrative: “Our differences may exist, but we are resolving disputes through dialogue. There is no hostility among us… unlike the NDA, we are not fielding candidates against one another within the coalition.”
The contrasting claims set up a larger battle not just of votes, but of perception and organisational discipline.
With the NDA projecting strength and the opposition showing signs of coordination issues, Paswan’s comment probes a critical question: Will internal fissures in the Mahagathbandhan cost them a fighting chance in Bihar? The stakes are high, and the answer may unfold on the ballot box in November.
