00:00But let's break down for you tonight what's really happening in the NDA camp and the Mahagat Bandhan camp.
00:05And let's take this one at a time. First focusing on the NDA.
00:08The numbers are clear as far as the seat sharing deal in the NDA is concerned.
00:13You've got the BJP and the J-DU each with 101 seats.
00:17And there's an important headline there. The fact that the BJP and the J-DU have the same number of seats this time.
00:22Also the LJP Ramadalas faction which is Chiragpa Swann's party now.
00:2729 seats being allotted to them.
00:29And looking at the strike rate that they managed in the general elections.
00:32The others, H-A-M, R-L-M, have six seats each.
00:35It was over this too that there was quite a bit of back and forth with the likes of Kushwaha as well as Manju.
00:43Objecting to why Chiragpa Swann has way more seats than they do.
00:47I'll take in a word from our reporters before we talk about the Mahagat Bandhan as well.
00:51We've got Rohit Singh joining us live from Patna.
00:53Piyush Mishra from Delhi.
00:55Piyush, I'm going to come across to you on what's really happening in the NDA camp.
00:58There are two headlines essentially that stand out for me from those numbers.
01:02The fact that you've got the BJP and J-DU with the exact number of seats this time.
01:06Which means that the BJP is kind of positioning itself as being in the same position as the J-DU as far as the NDA in Bihar is concerned.
01:14And the second headline is, of course, Chiragpa Swann's numbers.
01:16Well, absolutely, Akshita.
01:23I still remember a soundbite which was given by a senior BJP leader in Bihar where he had mentioned that there's no big or small brother in NDA.
01:32And that's what we are also seeing, seeing being reflected in the seat sharing, where BJP and J-DU are now fighting on equal number of seats.
01:41Apart from that, Chiragpa Swann's party is going to contest on 29.
01:44Let me also talk about the Mahagatband and then I'll bring in Rohit also.
02:14On this broadcast, you know, for the Mahagatband, while in the NDA, how many seats has at least been sealed?
02:21It's a question of which seats right now.
02:22As far as the Mahagatband goes, we still don't know what the seat sharing formula is.
02:27But here's what sources are telling us.
02:29And I'll reiterate that this is what sources are telling us.
02:31There's no finalized seat sharing deal just yet.
02:34The RGD could get 135 seats.
02:36The Congress has been pushing for somewhere between 61 to 63.
02:40And it looks like they'll get about 61 seats is what our source is telling us.
02:43But Mukesh Sani, who's been, in fact, lobbying hard at the expense of even making a few enemies within this alliance, could get about 16 seats.
02:54As far as the left goes, that's a CPIML, CPI, CPM, 29 to 31.
02:59Remember, the CPIML had even released a first list.
03:02And they went ahead and withdrew that list after it was very clear the Mahagatband hasn't come out with a deal yet.
03:10The other issue is about the CM face.
03:12They just, we are very clearly being portrayed.
03:14The Congress, though, hasn't really backed that formula just yet.
03:18The other bone of contention is that there's no deputy CM announcement and unlikely that there will be.
03:23So I'll bring in Rohit Singh on that as well.
03:25But Rohit, time is running out, you know, for the Mahagatbandhan.
03:29We're seeing about 48 hours to go for, in fact, the nominations to be filed for the first phase.
03:35So the Mahagatbandhan will have to get their act together.
03:38What really is the biggest issue they're facing in coming out with a number with the seat-sharing deal itself?
03:43Well, see, there seems to be not only a struggle, but a bigger struggle in the Mahagatbandhan camp.
03:55And as I was telling you, as we have always maintained, that NDA has finally managed to keep its flock together.
04:02And the house is also getting back to normal.
04:05But the Mahagatbandhan house right now is in complete chaos.
04:09And because of the differences of seat-sharing between primarily the RJD and the Congress Party,
04:17because this time around, the Congress Party is willing to compromise.
04:22It can come down from 70 seats, it's contested in 2020, to about 60, 62 seats.
04:27But what they want this time is that they want those seats where the Congress has a strong foothold.
04:33And those are the seats which the RJD basically is not in a mood to give.
04:38So, Vijay, so that is a sticking point between the RJD and the Congress.
04:44And remember, what we are learning from sources, there has been no talk also between Tejasfi Adav and Rahul Gandhi,
04:51because of which the matter has only worsened.
04:54However, Lalu Prasad has started distributing symbols to a few of the candidates.
04:59A few of the candidates have also filed nominations today, what we are learning.
05:02And also, CPIML today came out with a list of 18 candidates, but it had to withdraw it after there was some pressure from the alliance partners
05:10that when there has been no formal announcement on seat-sharing, how can you declare your own candidates?
05:16So, there is a huge chaos going on in the Mahagatbandhan.
05:20And one other important personality in the Mahagatbandhan is Mukesh Sahni, who wants that there should be an official declaration,
05:29not only a seat-sharing, but also a declaration that he will be made the deputy CM.
05:33And keeping in mind how unreliable Mukesh Sahni is, neither the Congress nor Tejasfi Adav are in a mood to declare him as the deputy CM phase.
05:47So, there is a lot of struggle which is going on in the Mahagatbandhan camp.
05:52And remember, only three days more left for the first phase nomination to get over.
05:57And still, no formal seat-sharing agreement out, no formal seat distribution list out.
06:04That's a big, big trouble for the Mahagatbandhan at the moment.
06:07Rohi, just two quick points, my follow-up question.
06:10One, you know, you'd think, looking at the timeline that you mentioned, that the Mahagatbandhan by now would have pressed the panic button.
06:16What stopped them from doing that?
06:18What's stopping a Tejasfi and Rahul Gandhi from speaking and kind of ironing out all differences?
06:22Second, or Mukesh Sahni, is there a possibility of a rebellion there?
06:27Well, that's the basic question as to why there is no talking between talks happening between Rahul Gandhi and Tejasfi Adav.
06:39Remember, voter Adhikar Yatra, just about a month back, where there was so much friendliness being shown,
06:45the bonhomie that was a witness between Tejasfi Adav and Rahul Gandhi.
06:49But what happens one month down the line?
06:52They are not even at talking terms what we are learning.
06:54So, if Rahul Gandhi and Tejasfi Adav sit and start talking, then things would simply ease out and get resolved.
07:02But I think it is not happening at this point of time.
07:05So, tonight, I think, is something big is going to happen.
07:09Big.
07:10With what I want to say is that maybe the RJD, maybe the Congress will come out with its own list of candidates for the first phase.
07:17They can put that list out on the social media.
07:20But till now, I am not seeing that there could be a formal press conference of the Mahagatibandhan happening, maybe tonight or tomorrow also.
07:28And each and every party of the Mahagatibandhan may release its own list, maybe tonight or early morning tomorrow.
07:36Because, as I was mentioning, only three days left for the first phase nomination to get over.
07:43Back to you.
07:44So, there could be some big surprise.
07:45I hope it's not a sleepless night for you in Patna, Rohit.
07:48But we'll wait and watch.
07:50Time is running out.
07:51And that's why the Congress and RJD could just come out with their own list is what Rohit is telling us.
07:57Thanks very much, Rohit and Piyush, for joining us with all of those details.
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