Mahagathbandhan fully prepared to form govt in Bihar, says Congress' Akhilesh Prasad Singh

Patna (Bihar) [India], October 6 (ANI): Congress leader Akhilesh Prasad Singh on Monday expressed confidence in the mahagathbandhan winning the upcoming Bihar assembly elections, saying that the alliance is "fully ready" to form the government.
"The Congress party and Mahagathbandhan are fully prepared... All are ready to form a government under the leadership of the Mahagathbandhan," the Congress leader told ANI here.
The Election Commission of India is set to hold a press conference at 4 PM today, where it is likely to announce the schedule for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections.
The Congress leader, while talking about the likelihood of dates being announced, said that he expects the poll body to conduct free and fair elections.
Whether the elections are held in one phase or two, the alliance is prepared, added Akhilesh Prasad Singh.
"Our only expectation from the Election Commission is that the elections be free and fair, that the poor and deprived sections have the right to vote; otherwise, we don't expect anything else", he said.
Meanwhile, Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Mrityunjay Tiwari raised questions over the health of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, claiming that the latter's name is being used for others' "selfish interests"
"The kind of bizarre antics that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar exhibits on public platforms is a matter of concern. Tejashwi Yadav has posted a video on social media asking who has brought Nitish Kumar to this state. This is a serious question. Nitish Kumar is completely in an unconscious state now; he is not in a condition to sit on the Chief Minister's chair...The people around him are using his name for their own selfish interests", he told ANI.
Earlier, on October 5, in a press conference in Patna, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar said that elections in Bihar will be held before November 22, when the term of the State Assembly ends.
Bihar has 243 assembly constituencies, including two reserved for STs and 38 for SCs.
"Bihar has 243 assembly constituencies - 2 for STs and 38 for SCs. The term of the Bihar Legislative Assembly ends on November 22, 2025, and elections will be held before that time... The Election Commission trained booth-level officers for the first time... SIR was launched on June 24, 2025, and completed by the deadline," Kumar said.
Kumar stated that "no polling station will have more than 1,200 voters" to ensure a smoother voting process. Kumar explained that the booth-level officials will now carry identity cards for easier identification, and voters' mobile phones can be deposited outside the booth.
The electoral battle in Bihar is largely anticipated to be a direct contest between the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, and the Mahagathbandhan, spearheaded by the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).
Currently, the NDA holds 131 seats -BJP with 80, JD(U) 45, HAM(S) 4, and two Independents -- while the Mahagathbandhan holds 111 seats, comprising RJD 77, Congress 19, CPI(ML) 11, CPI(M) 2, and CPI 2. (ANI)