The seat-sharing stalemate within Bihar’s Mahagathbandhan appears to have eased after a high-stakes meeting between Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) chief Mukesh Sahani and senior Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, in Delhi. According to India TV sources, Sahani’s party has been allotted 15 Assembly seats and assured a deputy chief minister’s post if the alliance returns to power.

The breakthrough comes after days of escalating tension, with the VIP earlier threatening to quit the alliance over what it termed as “unfair treatment” by the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). The situation grew tense on Thursday when Sahani scheduled — and repeatedly postponed — a press conference, fueling speculation of a possible split. The event was first set for 10 AM, then noon, later 6 PM, and was eventually cancelled after Congress and CPI(ML) leaders, including General Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya, held emergency talks to mediate.

Initially demanding 60 seats and the deputy CM post, Sahani later scaled back his expectations to 30 seats, sources said. The RJD and Congress reportedly agreed on 15 seats for the VIP, along with one Legislative Council position as part of the compromise formula. However, an official declaration from the Mahagathbandhan leadership is still awaited as discussions over specific constituencies continue.

Sahani is expected to contest from Darbhanga’s Gaura Bauram seat — a constituency that had initially been allocated to an RJD candidate. Party insiders suggest that the RJD symbol allotted there will be withdrawn to make way for the VIP chief’s nomination.

The Mahagathbandhan, which includes the RJD, Congress, Left parties, and now the reconciled VIP, is preparing for Bihar’s upcoming two-phase elections scheduled on November 6 and November 11. Counting of votes and declaration of results will take place on November 14.