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Alliance
politics of Bihar election:
BJP and JDU: Comparatively, more cohesive alliance
in which Janata Dal(U) will contest 138 and BJP 105
seats in assembly polls. The alliance has proposed the
name of Nitish Kumar as next chief ministerial candidate.
Initially JD(U) was very interested in bringing LJP
within the alliance and even offered the post of chief
minister to Ram Vilas Paswan. But Ram Vilas Paswan rejected
the offer. Congress and LJP have given indication of
making some adjustment with JD(U) in case of fractured
mandate.
Traditional voters: Bania, Kayasth,Brahmins, Bhumihars,
Kurmi and koeries. Laloo attacking this alliance on
Godhara issue.
Cong
and LJP :
This alliance materialized when talk of seat adjustment
of RJD and Congress failed. LJP President who was once
a part of NDA, left it on the issue of Gujarat carnage
and later aligned with congress and RJD in the last
election. Lok sabha election results proved his capability
of shifting dalit votes to his favour. LJP has decided
to contest 162 seats and left 80 seats to congress.
This alliance is being considered as a dark horse during
this election and may be crucial in forming a government
in Bihar. LJP has offered the post of Chief Minister
to Congress.
RJD,
Cong, CPI, CPM, NCP: Congress and RJD are traditional
allies and Cong. was also a constituent of the last
government in Bihar. With the failure of seat adjustment,
only seating cong. MLAs' seats were left for Cong and
on the rest of the seats both will have friendly fight.
Cong is practically having alliance with RJD and LJP
both. So it's a win win situation for Cong. Other political
parties have a token presence in Bihar barring CPI (ML)
which has its own vote bank in central Bihar.
LJP
chief Ranvilas Paswan, former ally of BJP-led NDA (who
quit NDA over the Gujarat riots) later joined hands
with Congress for the Lok Sabha assembly polls 2004.
Congress emerged as the single largest party in Lok
Sabha polls. Paswan extended full support to Congress
in forming the government at the Centre. Since then,
he has become a key ally of Congress, considering the
latter's strategy for its revival in Bihar.
The
Lok Sabha polls have shown that he is in a position
to shift the Dalit votebank decisively. LJP has decided
to contest 162 seats and left 80 seats to congress.
This alliance is being considered as a dark hourse during
this election and may be crucial in forming a government
in Bihar.
JD(U) on the other hand, also tried its best to persuade
Paswan, who is now regarded as MHIOK in Bihar(Must Have
in One's Kitty) to join hands with NDA to end Laloo
rule. However, Congress' patience prevailed over JD(U)'s
persistence and Paswan made it clear that he would not
be a part of any front that had BJP on board. He even
invited JD(U) to join Congress-led secular front.
According
to the final seat sharing agreement between Congress
and LJP, the former would contest on 80 seats and the
latter on 162 seats in Bihar.
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