NEW DELHI: Even as seat-sharing talks are in the final stage and the screening committee is set to decide on the remaining candidates in Bihar, several Congress leaders have sought tickets for their sons and daughters in the crucial Bihar Assembly polls that will take place in two phases on November 6 and 11.
According to sources, during the virtual screening committee meeting on Friday, several senior Congress leaders put forth the names of their sons and daughters as probable candidates.
The leaders include former Bihar Congress chiefs Akhilesh Prasad Singh, Madan Mohan Jha, former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, and Bhagalpur MLA Ajit Sharma, among others.
However, in a surprise move, the names of all these leaders’ family members were sent for consideration, and the party leadership has demanded one or two additional probable candidates along with these names.
It is worth mentioning that Akhilesh Singh and Meira Kumar’s sons had contested last year’s Lok Sabha polls unsuccessfully.
However, looking at the party’s chances in this year’s Assembly polls, these leaders have decided to field their sons and daughters in the upcoming election.
Sources indicated that Sharma wants his daughter Neha Sharma, a Bollywood actor, to make her poll debut in this year’s Assembly elections.
She had earlier held roadshows for her father in Bhagalpur during the general elections last year, as well as in 2020 and earlier polls in the state.
Thus, Sharma wants his daughter to take the reins of his Assembly constituency and contest in the upcoming polls, the source said.
Similarly, Jha also wants his son to contest in this year’s elections from his seat.
The source said that the list does not stop there—senior party leaders Shakeel Ahmed Khan and Awadhesh Singh also want their family members to contest from their traditional seats.
The decision on these names will be finalised by the screening committee after reviewing a panel of three candidates, which will then be sent to the Central Election Committee for the final announcement.
On the other hand, sources indicated that Congress has put a speed breaker in the seat-sharing talks, demanding at least 58 seats in the state.
Congress was offered 52 Assembly seats, but the party put up a strong stance, insisting on 58 seats.
The talks will be finalised once Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and party in-charge Krishna Allavaru receive feedback from state leaders.
Meanwhile, after the crucial meeting between former Chief Minister Rabri Devi and Grand Alliance leaders, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav is likely to fly to Delhi to hold talks with Rahul Gandhi to finalise the seat-sharing formula.
Polling for the 243-member Assembly is scheduled for November 6 and 11, with counting on November 14.
