Congress fields five candidates for Bihar MLC elections amid ally RJD contest

The Indian National Congress has named five candidates for the upcoming Bihar Legislative Council elections, marking the party's participation in the state assembly chamber polls. The list comes as the Congress continues its alliance with the Rashtriya Janata Dal in the state, though the two parties will contest directly in at least three constituencies.

The RJD, which serves as the Congress's principal ally in Bihar, had announced its own slate of candidates for six MLC seats last month. At that time, the regional party indicated that decisions regarding the remaining vacant seats were still pending, leaving open the possibility of further candidate announcements.

The overlapping candidacies in three constituencies suggest an understanding between the two parties, though the exact nature of their seat-sharing arrangement remains to be fully clarified. Both parties have maintained their pre-poll alliance for the upcoming elections despite the contested seats.

The Bihar Legislative Council elections are scheduled to fill multiple vacancies through both nominated and elected positions. The Congress's decision to field candidates reflects the party's efforts to maintain its organizational presence in the state, even as it operates within the broader framework of its alliance with the RJD.