New Delhi: Madhaw Anand, National Secretary General of the Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM), an important ally of the NDA in Bihar, spoke to The Sunday Guardian about the alliance’s preparations for the upcoming Assembly elections, scheduled to take place in October–November this year. Anand assured that there is complete harmony within the NDA over the issue of seat-sharing, and all constituent parties will contest a respectful number of seats based strictly on the principle of winnability.
Commenting on the changing political dynamics in the state, Anand maintained that Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj initiative poses no real threat to the NDA. According to him, the ruling alliance enjoys a deeply rooted and resilient support base which cannot be eroded easily, no matter how vigorously Jan Suraaj campaigns. At the same time, Anand conceded that Kishor’s movement may end up weakening the Mahagathbandhan (India bloc) by cutting into its traditional vote share. He further suggested that because Kishor is tirelessly building an organisation at the grassroots, it is quite possible that, in the near future, some opposition leaders may switch sides and join hands with him in hopes of securing a ticket for the Assembly polls.
Speaking about his party’s role within the alliance, Anand explained that while the Rashtriya Lok Morcha is preparing organisationally to field candidates in all 243 constituencies across the state, as a committed member of the NDA it will eventually contest only those seats allocated under the alliance’s seat-sharing formula. He reiterated that the NDA remains united with a singular mission—to further the development of Bihar.
