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Politics
Bihar CM's effort to settle JD(U) MLC poll rift falls flat
✍️ The New Indian Express
🗓 10 Oct 2026, 01:32 AM
👁 25
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's attempt to mend the JD(U) split over upcoming MLC elections failed, leaving the party factions at odds.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar stepped in last week to resolve a growing rift within the Janata Dal (United) over the selection of candidates for the upcoming Legislative Council (MLC) polls. The dispute, which pits senior leaders allied with the party's parliamentary wing against those supporting the Rashtriya Lokashakti (RLM) faction, threatened to undermine the JD(U)'s cohesion ahead of the elections.
In a series of meetings convened by the CM, senior JD(U) leaders were urged to accept a consensus list of candidates. However, the talks broke down as the RLM bloc refused to back the proposed names, insisting on their own nominations. The stalemate persisted, and the CM publicly acknowledged that his mediation had not yielded an agreement.
The failure to bridge the divide has broader political implications. With the JD(U) a key partner in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Bihar, the unresolved feud could affect the alliance's performance in the MLC polls and strain its coordination in upcoming state elections. Analysts note that the RLM MLAs' decision to skip the scheduled NDA meeting underscores the depth of the discord.
Party insiders say the next step may involve a fresh round of negotiations, possibly mediated by senior NDA figures, but no timeline has been set. The CM reiterated his commitment to maintaining party unity, emphasizing that a fragmented JD(U) would be detrimental to both the alliance and the state's governance agenda.
In a series of meetings convened by the CM, senior JD(U) leaders were urged to accept a consensus list of candidates. However, the talks broke down as the RLM bloc refused to back the proposed names, insisting on their own nominations. The stalemate persisted, and the CM publicly acknowledged that his mediation had not yielded an agreement.
The failure to bridge the divide has broader political implications. With the JD(U) a key partner in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Bihar, the unresolved feud could affect the alliance's performance in the MLC polls and strain its coordination in upcoming state elections. Analysts note that the RLM MLAs' decision to skip the scheduled NDA meeting underscores the depth of the discord.
Party insiders say the next step may involve a fresh round of negotiations, possibly mediated by senior NDA figures, but no timeline has been set. The CM reiterated his commitment to maintaining party unity, emphasizing that a fragmented JD(U) would be detrimental to both the alliance and the state's governance agenda.