PATNA, Aug. 26 -- Energised by the overwhelming public turnout at its ongoing Voter Adhikar Yatra, the Indian National Congress is recalibrating its approach within Bihar's Opposition coalition, seeking a stronger foothold in seat allocations ahead of the upcoming assembly polls. The statewide campaign, spearheaded by Rahul Gandhi, has spotlighted issues like electoral integrity and voter rights, drawing massive crowds and prompting senior Congress figures to advocate for more viable constituencies from ally Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). This shift, however, has exposed underlying frictions in the Mahagathbandhan, with Rahul Gandhi's evasion on endorsing RJD's Tejashwi Prasad Yadav as the coalition's chief ministerial candidate fuelling debates on leadership and unity. Bihar Congress chief Rajesh Ram, however, dispelled any confusion over the face of the coalition. "Rahul ji might have skipped the reply on the leadership as part of strategy to keep the media interaction's focus on causes of the yatra. There is no discord or dispute over the leadership issue within the INDIA bloc," asserted Ram, adding that the party would try to live up to growing expectations of the people in the state, while acknowledging the people's desire of Congress being more visible in the political landscape of Bihar. Amid the brewing speculation over alliance dynamics, Bihar's Congress legislature party (CLP) leader Shakeel Ahmad Khan sought to quell concerns, asserting, "As Rahul ji has acknowledged, everything is going on in perfect tandem - from grassroots to the top leaders' level in the Opposition alliance. There is proper cohesiveness among the INDIA bloc constituents." Khan's comments, made in the context of ongoing preparations, underscore Congress's push for strategic coordination while keeping options open on key decisions. He further emphasised that party teams are working well within defined roles, with the screening committee evaluating potential seats for the contest. "We will definitely contest better seats this time. Parallel panels from alliance partners are collaborating to pinpoint optimal constituencies and devise tactics to challenge National Democratic Alliance (NDA) contenders effectively," added Khan. This groundswell of support has emboldened Congress to disrupt traditional seat-sharing norms. Insiders reveal the party is targeting 60-70 winnable seats, prioritising quality over quantity, following its 2020 allocation of 70 constituencies - many historically unfavourable for the Congress. That election saw the Mahagathbandhan bag 110 seats total, with RJD securing 75, Congress 19, and Left parties 16, against the NDA's 125 (BJP 74, JD(U) 43). Congress contends that the prior setup included long-neglected areas, leading to poor showings and allowing RJD to attribute the alliance's shortfall to its partner. Rahul Gandhi's ambiguous position on Tejashwi's leadership, voiced at a joint press conference in Araria, has heightened these tensions. Queried on reciprocating Tejashwi's endorsement of him as the INDIA bloc's 2029 prime ministerial face, Rahul replied evasively: "The partnership is good; we will win." This has frustrated RJD ranks, who see it as Congress overstepping, given Tejashwi's established role as the bloc's natural CM pick and RJD's historical concessions in seat distribution. RJD sources highlight morale dips among cadres, underscoring their party's pivotal status in the coalition. A section of Congress leaders insists on harmony. Rajya Sabha MP Akhilesh Prasad Singh, a former BPCC president, questioned the fuss, stating: "As the leader of the largest partner in the INDIA bloc, Tejashwi Prasad Yadav is the natural and unavoidable choice." The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has capitalised on this vagueness to depict the Opposition as divided. Figures like Shahnawaz Hussain labelled Rahul arrogant, arguing the hesitation erodes Tejashwi's public credibility. BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya amplified this, noting Congress's reliance on RJD for survival in Bihar and warning that a split could decimate the former. The NDA is grappling with the challenge of finalising shares of seats, eyeing roughly equal allotments for BJP and JD(U) at about 100 each, while Chirag Paswan's LJP(RV) seeks 40 but may accept 20. Wider INDIA bloc talks introduce further intricacies, with the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) demanding 12 seats for reciprocal support, and Left parties aiming beyond their 2020 count. RJD, intent on maintaining its 144-seat contest from last time, cites obligations to integrate leaders like Mukesh Sahni and Pashupati Paras. Tejashwi, in recent Patna huddles, affirmed progress in discussions but advocated a "prudent approach" to address claims. As Bihar's electorate - shaped by caste equations and economic woes - gears up for the fray, the Mahagathbandhan's resolution of these matters will prove decisive. Congress's yatra-fueled drive aims to extend influence past RJD's Yadav-Muslim core, appealing to urban and disaffected groups weary of NDA rule. Disunity risks bolstering the incumbent alliance, which is ramping up amid Bihar's legacy of razor-thin verdicts....