Could all 6 Congress MLAs move to JD(U): Bihar buzzes with talk of MLA crossovers

At the same time, the BJP, the single largest party in the state, is said to be looking to cement its numerical edge, with sources saying that three of the four MLAs of Upendra Kushwaha’s Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM), an NDA ally, have been in touch with the BJP leaders. This underlines the fluid internal dynamics of the ruling coalition, pointing to a quiet tussle for supremacy between the BJP and the JD(U).

In the November 2025 Bihar elections, the NDA bagged 202 seats, with the BJP and the JD(U) winning 89 and 85 seats respectively. Of the Mahagathbandhan’s 35 seats, the RJD got 25.

The Congress won just six of the 61 seats it contested. Its MLAs are Manohar Prasad Singh (Manihari), Surendra Prasad (Valmiki Nagar), Abhishek Ranjan (Chanpatia), Abidur Rahman (Araria), Md Kamrul Hoda (Kishanganj) and Manoj Biswan (Forbesganj).

A senior JD(U) functionary said the “dissatisfaction” among the Congress MLAs with their party’s functioning has reached a “tipping point”. “The Congress MLAs are unhappy with the way their party is functioning in the state. They are in touch with us. It is a matter of a few days (for their defection),” he claimed. If such a move materialises, the JD(U) would “outnumber” the BJP’s tally in the House, the party camp says.

The signs of unease within the Congress have been apparent for weeks. Congress insiders said all six MLAs have been skipping the party’s organisational programmes for the last several days, including the traditional “Dahi Chura” feast held at its Sadaqat Ashram headquarters in Patna Monday.

Two Congress MLAs also skipped a January 8 meeting convened by state party chief Rajesh Ram as part of the party’s “MGNREGA Bachao” campaign. “The two MLAs who skipped the meeting on the MGNREGA stir were Surendra Prasad and Abhishek Ranjan. And, then all of them didn’t show up at the ‘Dahi Chura’ feast. Ranjan has been giving a miss to almost all the party events in recent weeks,” said a Congress source.

While the Congress camp conceded that some legislators could be in touch with the NDA leaders, some senior party leaders dismissed such talks as “politically motivated”. “There is no truth to these speculations. We are sure none of our MLAs are going anywhere. They missed Monday’s event as they were in their constituencies,” said Shakeel Ahmad Khan, former Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader.

AICC secretary for Bihar, Shahnawaz Alam, said these speculations were “absolutely false”, accusing the NDA of trying to “deflect attention” from the Congress’s campaign to revive MGNREGA, which has been repealed by the G RAM G Act passed by the Narendra Modi government in Parliament during the winter session.

While the Congress is struggling to hold its flock together, tensions within the NDA also seem to be coming to the surface.

Three RLM MLAs — Rameshwar Mahato, Madhav Anand and Alok Kumar Singh — are said to be in touch with the BJP, sources said. The fourth MLA is Kushwaha’s wife, Snehlata. Sources said the discontent within the RLM stems from Kushwaha’s decision to nominate his son Deepak to the Nitish Kumar Cabinet even though he is not a member of either House of the Bihar Legislature.

The murmurs of dissent within the RLM began soon after the Nitish ministry was formed on November 20. Recently, the three RLM MLAs skipped a “litti feast” hosted by Kushwaha to placate the disgruntled leaders, preferring instead to meet Nitin Nabin, who was then just appointed as the BJP national working president.

Sources suggested that the RLM may formally split soon, which could put Kushwaha’s possible re-election to the Rajya Sabha in April in jeopardy. Sources, however, added that the BJP is likely to find a way to retain him in the NDA fold even in that scenario.

However, RLM MLA from Mdhubani, Madhaw Anand, denied that the party was on the brink of a split. “It is true that MLAs are cross with the fact that Kushwaha ji has chosen to promote his family. But that does not mean the party will split. I have been with Kushwaha ji since RLSP days. We are talking these issues out within the party,” Anand said.

Alok Kumar Singh, RLM MLA from Dinara, also downplayed his absence from the “litti feast”. “Just because we could not attend the feast due to some engagements, people have started speculating about a split. Whatever issues are there, cannot be discussed in the media. It will be sorted out within the party. I have full faith in our president. Our party will remain intact,” he said.

There is also speculation over the possible return of former Union minister R C P Singh to the JD(U). Once a close confidant of Nitish, Singh was expelled from the JD(U) in 2022 for cosying up to the BJP and for allegedly attempting to break up the JD(U). He later joined Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party ahead of the Assembly polls.

Recently, Singh was invited to a Kurmi Sammelan in Bihar, where Nitish was also in attendance. Although he arrived there after the CM had left, the two being part of the same event was seen as politically significant. JD(U) sources said Singh’s return to the party could not be ruled out.

All these developments highlight that Bihar politics has entered a new phase of volatility, which may lead to some realignments despite the NDA’s decisive mandate.