NDA rifts emerge in Bihar council poll as ally RLM splinters

Cracks have appeared within the NDA coalition in Bihar ahead of the state legislative council elections, with a significant split emerging from a key ally in the Saran teachers' electoral district.

The JDU has fielded Anand Pushkar as its official candidate for the Saran teachers' constituency. However, three legislators from the Ram Vilas party (RLM), a coalition partner within the NDA framework, have withdrawn support and are instead backing independent candidate Rampukar Sinha.

The rebellion is particularly notable given that the RLM faction holds only a limited assembly presence in the state. The decision by three of its four legislators to support an independent candidate represents a substantial internal schism, raising questions about the stability of the alliance ahead of broader electoral contests.

The development underscores growing tensions within the NDA's Bihar operations, as constituent parties navigate competing political interests and loyalties. Such fissures in legislative council elections often signal deeper organizational challenges within coalition structures.

Neither the RLM nor the JDU have issued formal statements explaining the divergence, though political observers view the move as indicative of broader factional disputes within the alliance that could have implications for future electoral coordination in the state.