PATNA, Oct. 6 -- The Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc is on the verge of finalising seat-sharing arrangements for the Bihar assembly elections, with an announcement expected in next four-five days. Coalition insiders said that negotiations were in their concluding phase, paving the way for a unified challenge against the incumbent National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the poll-bound state. A pivotal meeting of INDIA bloc leaders, led by Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) heavyweight and opposition leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav is in the offing. Attendees will include key representatives from the Congress, Left outfits and other partners, focusing on resolving lingering issues around seat distribution and candidate lists to ensure a cohesive strategy. This development builds on the Congress party's recent screening committee session in New Delhi, overseen by senior leader Ajay Maken, where constituencies were shortlisted and candidate panels approved for the party. The party has earmarked at least 67 of Bihar's 243 seats for contention, offering multiple aspirants per seat while awaiting alliance consensus. Yet, to make room for junior allies, Congress is prepared to scale back to 50-60 seats, down from the 70 seats that it fought in the 2020 elections. Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) founder and former Bihar minister Mukesh Sahni struck a positive note on the talks, affirming that discussions were advancing without hitches. Talking to reporters, Sahni stated, "Talks on seat sharing in the Mahagathbandhan are in the final stage. The announcement could happen anytime. Everything is proceeding smoothly. We are meeting again this evening." Some VIP functionaries have also signalled aspirations for the deputy CM's position if the bloc triumphs, underscoring the party's ambition to amplify its role. Representing Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs), VIP is vying for 15-18 seats to bolster its presence, though initial demands soared as high as 60, contributing to earlier stalemates. INDIA bloc, locally termed Mahagathbandhan, comprises the RJD, Congress, Left parties like CPI, CPI(M) and CPI(ML), VIP, Pashupati Kumar Paras-led Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party (RLJP) and Hemant Soren's Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM). Unity remains the mantra, with no allies signalling plans to go solo against the NDA. That said, bargaining manoeuvres have intensified, exemplified by Tejashwi Yadav's remark that the RJD could field candidates across all 243 seats, a move that rattled partners like Congress but is viewed as leverage in talks. The RJD is projected to claim the bulk-130-140 seats-leveraging its dominance in 133-136 areas from prior cycles. The Left coalition is angling for 30-32 seats, capitalising on their 2020 success of securing 16 victories from 29 contests. Meanwhile, RLJP and JMM could bag 2-4 seats apiece, influenced by cross-state pacts, including JMM's earlier allocation of six seats to RJD in Jharkhand's 2024 elections. A floated distribution model among insiders proposes: RJD 130-133, Congress 55-58, Left 30-32, VIP 16-18, RLJP 4 and JMM 2-3, with provisions for symbol sharing in certain pockets. Despite negotiation hurdles, the bloc's election machinery is ramping up itself into a spirited mode. RJD and Congress are dissecting 2020 losses, factoring in vote margins and caste dynamics to assign seats to the most viable ally. Joint efforts, such as the "Voter Adhikar Yatra" by Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav, have fostered solidarity and energised bases among OBCs and Muslims. The alliance is prioritising inclusivity for underrepresented communities to erode the NDA's stronghold. Sahni also weighed in on broader electoral integrity, endorsing Tejashwi Yadav's call for impartial polls while lambasting the central government. He remarked, "It is generally observed, especially since Narendra Modi's government came to power, that there has been a conspiracy to end democracy. Today, attempts are being made to buy votes with money." He urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) to uphold fairness, invoking BR Ambedkar's vision of people as democracy's true sovereigns, but expressed scepticism about the ECI's neutrality, alleging NDA bias. Sahni added that the public would robustly contest and oust any regime disregarding the Constitution, while noting the ECI's role in determining polling phases. The ECI wrapped up a two-day assessment of Bihar's poll readiness, consulting NDA and INDIA leaders, hinting at imminent schedule reveals. Facing 74.2 million electors in a multi-way battle-including Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj Party - the elections, slated for October-November, are high octane. Surveys forecast a close fight, with INDIA potentially clinching 105-110 seats, hinging on on-ground execution....