Senior Bihar Congress leader and Member of Parliament, Akhilesh Prasad Singh, remarked that announcements regarding seat-sharing within the Grand Alliance would happen anytime today. He found the demand for seats by VIP leader Mukesh Sahni to be unwarranted, emphasizing the need for self-assessment before forming alliances.
At the Aaj Tak's event 'Panchayat Aaj Tak' held in Patna, Congress MP Akhilesh Prasad highlighted that Mukesh Sahni’s current stance makes it difficult to allocate 40 seats. In the NDA, Upendra Kushwaha is receiving 6 seats, and Majhi Ji is receiving 6 seats as well.
Further, Akhilesh Prasad Singh mentioned that the current JDU is steered by Lalan Singh, Sanjay Jha, and Ashok Chaudhary, with Nitish's influence significantly diminished. He noted the challenging nature of campaigning for Nitish Ji this time around.
When questioned about Congress's reserved support for Tejashwi Yadav as CM, he stated that he's not a CWC member but consistently advocates for Tejashwi as the only viable option. Regarding the elections, he affirmed that Congress wouldn't contest on less than 60 seats, acknowledging RJD as a party with a substantial support base.
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Talking about Congress's performance, he mentioned the recent Lok Sabha elections, where they contested 9 seats in 2019 and once again this time, clinching a victory on one seat previously and achieving wins on four seats this time, with a 4 percent increase in votes. He anticipated a similar 2-3 percent increase in these elections, hinting at surprising results in Bihar.
Recalling Bihar's bygone glory during Modi’s tenure, the Congress MP reminisced when Bihar led with sugar mills across districts, contributing 27 percent to the nation's sugar production during Sribabu's rule, which has now plummeted to 2 percent. Citing NITI Aayog’s report, he pointed out the state's decline to the 28th position in industrialization among 28 states.
On the issue of employment, he asserted that under Tejashwi Yadav’s brief leadership in Nitish’s cabinet, steps were taken to provide jobs to 500,000 individuals. He assured that Tejashwi’s credible promises of providing a government job per family would be trusted by the people. He criticized NDA for failing to deliver on its promises.
On the proposition of allocating 40 seats and a Deputy CM position to VIP leader Mukesh Sahni, Akhilesh Prasad Singh expressed uncertainty, noting ongoing talks between Sahni and RJD. He remarked,
'I don’t wish to comment from here but alliances require comprehensive understanding and self-awareness. Considering Mukesh Sahni's situation, it’s unclear where the provision of 40 seats comes from. In the NDA, Upendra Kushwaha is allocated 6 seats, Majhi Ji also gets 6 seats, and Chirag Ji is granted 29 seats. Mukesh Sahni needs moderate expectations if he wishes to progress within the alliance. Political harmony can only be achieved through practical thinking.'
When asked if Congress should claim the Deputy CM post, he affirmed that if it aligns with the person's and party's aspirations, it should be pursued. Sharing Rahul Gandhi's visions for Bihar, he mentioned the plan to elevate Bihar to the league of developed states, highlighting concerns about unemployment and migration. He described the current state as disheartening.
On CM Nitish Kumar’s health, he remarked that the CM isn’t in a position to work effectively, with decisions being dictated from Delhi, though wishing him well.
Analyzing Prashant Kishor's political journey, he characterized it as nascent, with Kishor making his entry into grounded politics. On the potential of AIMIM chief Owaisi in Bihar, he confidently stated that Muslim voters wouldn't support him, ruling out any Congress-AIMIM or BJP-Congress alliance.
He discussed the speculations surrounding Chirag Paswan's association with the Grand Alliance, stating that no possibility can be ruled out in politics.
