Cracks have appeared in the opposition's Bihar alliance ahead of the Legislative Council elections. The Congress has announced five candidates for the MLC polls, setting up a direct fight with its ally RJD on three graduate constituency seats.

Polling for the council seats is scheduled for October 23. The graduate seats, where teachers and graduates vote, have traditionally seen contests among the state's major political formations. Congress leaders say the party is contesting seats where it has a strong base of graduate voters.

The BJP and JD(U) were quick to attack, calling the Congress-RJD face-off proof that the opposition alliance is falling apart in Bihar. BJP leaders said the "Mahagathbandhan" cannot even agree on council seats and asked how it would run the state.

The Congress-RJD friction comes at a sensitive time, with the two parties also negotiating seat-sharing for bigger battles ahead. Whether the allies resolve the contest before polling day will be watched closely in Patna.

Sources: news89.com; newsd.in; techwordnews.com.