"Mahagathbandhan leaders wielding swords against each other": JD(U)'s Rajiv Prasad amid stalemate over seat sharing

Patna (Bihar) [India], October 18 (ANI): Janata Dal (United) leader Rajiv Ranjan Prasad on Saturday said that the leaders of the Mahagathbandhan were "wielding swords against each other" amid the ongoing stalemate within the opposition alliance over the seat allocation for the two-phased Bihar assembly polls.
He also claimed that RJD has put up a candidate against the Congress for the assemby poll.
Speaking to ANI in Patna, Prasad said, "The opposition has already been defeated even before the elections began. Their own leaders are wielding swords against each other. Congress has also resolved to teach the RJD a lesson this time. The RJD has even fielded a candidate against the state Congress president."
The JDU leaders suggested that the Congress should fight the elections alone, as the RJD is likely to be defeated.
"There are nearly a dozen seats in the first phase where a fierce contest between the two parties is expected to be witnessed... Congress, counting its last breaths, should decide to part ways. This time, the RJD is also doomed," Prasad added.
He also took a dig at the RJD for fielding Osama Shahab, son of former MP and controversial leader Mohammad Shahabuddin, from the Raghunathpur constituency.
"Shahabuddin was one of the big faces of 'jungle raj'... They began the distribution of party symbols with Shahabuddin's son, Osama, who had many cases against him. It is clear that the people of Bihar will give a fitting response to those who are again attempting to drag Bihar into a 'jungle raj'," the JD(U) leader said.
The remarks come as political temperatures rise in Bihar ahead of the 243-seat Assembly polls
However, the Mahagathbandhan, comprising the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Indian National Congress (INC) and Left parties, including Communist Party of India (CPI), Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation-CPIML (Liberation) and Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPIM), is delaying their candidate selection and seat distribution.
Meanwhile, the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) shared a seat distribution list, and the party has already begun its groundwork across key constituencies.
Earlier today, Chirag Paswan-led Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Patna to discuss the National Democratic Alliance's (NDA) preparations and strategy for the assembly poll.
Polling for the Bihar elections 2025 will take place on November 6 and 11. The results will be announced on November 14. (ANI)