MLC polls expose fresh rifts within India Bloc

After the assembly elections in 2025 in Bihar, a continuing rift seems to exist among INDIA bloc allies, especially RJD and Congress. This was visible during the Jharkhand Rajya Sabha elections in June earlier, when Congress alleged that RJD MLAs did not vote for Congress candidate Pranav Jha.

While RJD is still struggling to resolve its internal family rivalry, Congress looks forward to charting a new path in the state.

The latest discord concerns the elections for eight MLC seats in Bihar. The RJD, without consulting its allies, announced candidates for six out of eight seats. Congress did not receive this decision well. The party went ahead and announced candidates for five seats, and Congress and RJD candidates are likely to be in direct contest on four seats.


This occurred just as RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav attended an INDIA alliance meeting in Delhi earlier this week, where the parties decided to launch a nationwide protest against the Election Commission.

Sources tell ET that Congress is trying to strengthen its organisation in the state independently of RJD, while RJD leadership believes Congress has no ground presence without their support.