Reflecting the confusion and the tussle within, the Opposition Mahagathbandhan in Bihar failed to announce a seat-sharing pact Friday as nominations closed for the first of the two-phase Assembly elections in the state.

Partners of the alliance filed nomination papers for all 121 seats going to polls in the first phase – the total strength of the Bihar House is 243 – while talks continued to end the deadlock over seats. The last date for filing nominations for the remaining 122 seats in the second phase is Monday.

The Mahagathbandhan, comprising the RJD, Congress, CPI (M-L) Liberation, CPI (M), CPI and Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP), still has to resolve the fight for seats in over a dozen constituencies.

While the alliance is still intact, parties unilaterally released their lists. Both

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