NCP (AP) has planned a solo Bihar poll run, sparking tension within NDA ranks.
NEW DELHI: Tensions are rising within the NDA in Bihar following the announcement by one of its allies, the Nationalist Congress Party – Ajit Pawar faction, to contest the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections independently. The party has confirmed its decision to go solo in the polls slated for October-November this year. This unexpected move has reportedly triggered panic within both the BJP and JDU, prompting urgent internal discussions within the NDA camp to address and find a solution to the emerging challenge posed by NCP (AP)’s decision.
On the other hand, Brijmohan Shrivastav, a senior leader and national spokesperson of NCP (AP), who is overseeing the party’s preparations for the Bihar Assembly elections, informed The Sunday Guardian that the party is committed to fighting the election independently and has already begun groundwork across the state.
He stated, “We will contest the Bihar elections independently since, up to this point, there has been no discussion regarding any alliance. Therefore, we are fully prepared to go solo.”
Shrivastav also mentioned that in the past, the NCP has contested Bihar Assembly elections on its own and had MLAs and MPs from the state. However, over time, the party lost its footing in Bihar, which is why they are now working with renewed effort to reclaim their lost influence in the region.
Shrivastav further emphasised that in the 2020 Bihar Assembly elections, the NCP also contested independently, though they were unable to win any seats. Nevertheless, this time around, the party is optimistic under the leadership of Pawar and is gearing up to make a significant impact. He revealed that the party aims to contest as many as 75 to 80 seats in the upcoming election.
When asked whether NCP (AP)’s decision to contest the Bihar Assembly elections independently could negatively impact the BJP and other NDA allies or dent the overall prospects of the NDA, Shrivastav responded with clarity and confidence. He openly admitted that their move is likely to influence the electoral performance of existing alliance partners, asserting that NCP-AP’s participation would certainly affect the vote share and positioning of other parties in the fray.
However, Shrivastav made it clear that such consequences are not a matter of concern for NCP (AP). He stressed that it is the BJP and its allies who need to evaluate and address the situation. If the NDA believes that NCP (AP)’s independent contesting could pose a challenge to their electoral success, then it is up to them to either adjust their election strategies accordingly or to initiate discussions with NCP (AP) to formulate a fair and cooperative seat-sharing agreement.
On the other hand, Rajeev Ranjan, the national spokesperson of JDU, told The Sunday Guardian that the NDA’s state and central leadership will examine the issue of accommodating NCP (AP) in the upcoming elections. He added that if NCP (AP) chooses not to accept the alliance’s decision, they are free to contest independently, as India is a democratic country where no one can be restricted from participating in elections.