Bihar's Coalition Conundrum: A Familiar Echo of My Calls for Pre-Poll Unity
The air in Bihar is thick with political tension as both major alliances, the INDIA bloc (Mahagathbandhan) and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), grapple with the intricate dance of seat-sharing ahead of the assembly elections. As I observe these unfolding events, I find myself reflecting on conversations I initiated years ago about the inherent challenges of coalition politics in India.
The delays in announcing a unified front for the Bihar polls are not merely administrative hiccups; they are a stark reflection of deep-seated issues that have plagued multi-party systems for decades. On one side, the Mahagathbandhan is seeing significant friction, with the Congress reportedly rejecting the Rashtriya Janata Dal's (RJD) offer of 52 seats, demanding 60 instead Bihar Mahagatbandhan Rift, Congress rejects RJD's 52 seat offer. Further complicating matters for the INDIA bloc, Asaduddin Owaisi's AIMIM has decided to go solo, fielding 32 candidates, a move that could very well split the 'secular vote' and undermine the alliance's prospects Bihar Polls Twist: Owaisi's AIMIM Goes Solo.
The NDA is hardly immune to these internal battles. Jitan Ram Manjhi's Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) is reportedly upset, rejecting the proposed formula and demanding a larger share of around 15 seats NDA Bihar Pact In Trouble? Manjhi Upset. Similarly, Chirag Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) has put forward a formidable demand for 40-50 seats and is even considering alternatives if its demands are not met Bihar NDA turmoil: Chirag Paswan's LJP demands. The emergence of Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj party, fielding its own candidates, adds another layer of complexity, signaling a fragmentation of political forces. It also brings to mind Tejashwi Yadav's significant promise of 10 lakh jobs, a familiar election pledge I discussed back in 2020, highlighting the need for politicians to speak a more grounded truth about employment Poll Promise to create 10 lakh jobs.
These developments in Bihar bring a keen sense of validation to a thought I brought up years ago. In my blog from 2018, titled "Will MahaGathBandhan steal a march ?," I explicitly advocated for all opposition political parties to form a “Pre Poll” alliance right now to avoid the very 'horse trading' and internal squabbles that destabilize governments and frustrate voters. I proposed the idea of a “Constitutional Coalition Government,” emphasizing a framework for cooperation instead of endless confrontation when it comes to power sharing. I also highlighted how the daily "tamaashaa" of elections, horse-trading, and political mudslinging deeply impacts public trust and governance. It's striking how relevant that earlier insight still is, as we witness these very dynamics play out in Bihar today. Reflecting on it, I feel a renewed urgency to revisit those ideas, because they clearly hold value in the current context, offering a pathway to greater stability and more effective governance.
The current Bihar polls are a vivid illustration of the precarious nature of post-poll alliances and the constant tug-of-war for power and seats. The solution, as I've long suggested, lies in a more mature, institutionalized approach to coalition building – one that prioritizes a stable and transparent pre-poll arrangement, ensuring that the focus remains on governance rather than perpetual political maneuvering.
Regards,
Hemen Parekh
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