Patna, Oct. 16 -- Even as the Grand Alliance was yet to reach a consensus on seat sharing, the Congress on Wednesday distributed official party symbols to at least ten prospective candidates for the Bihar assembly elections. The development came on a day when Rashtriya Janata Dal's Tejashwi Yadav filed his nomination from the Raghopur assembly constituency. The opposition alliance looked in a complete disarray even as several Congress and RJD leaders rejected speculation dissension in the coalition. Although the Congress has not yet come out with a formal list of candidates, several aspirants stormed the Patna airport late in the evening, to heckle state party president Rajesh Kumar and legislative party leader Shakeel Ahmed Khan, accusing them of having "put up tickets for sale". While the Bharatiya Janata Party announced its candidates on all 101 seats on Wednesday, JD(U) also came up with its first list of 57 candidates. According to leaders aware of the matter, the symbols were formally allotted by Rajesh Ram and Shakeel Ahmad Khan, shortly after their return from consultations in New Delhi. The symbol allotment ceremony unfolded in the presence of All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge for Bihar, Krishna Allavaru, underscoring the high-level oversight amid ongoing seat-sharing deliberations. This step highlighted Congress's determination to assert its stake in the alliance, particularly on high-stakes constituencies where internal frictions have simmered for weeks. The initial list of allottees reflects a calculated mix of experienced leaders and fresh faces, aimed at bolstering Congress's organizational footprint in diverse regions of Bihar. Key recipients include Shiv Prakash Garib Das (Bachhwara), Anand Shankar (Aurangabad), Awadhesh Kumar Singh (Wazirganj), Pratima Das (Raja Pakar), Trishuldhari Singh (Barbigha), BK Ravi (Rosera), Kaushlendra Kumar alias Chhote Mukhiya (Nalanda) and Lalan Kumar (Sultanganj). Additionally, two leaders-Amit Kumar Tunna (Riga) and Sanjeev Singh (Vaishali)-have already submitted their nomination papers, formalising their candidacies ahead of the pack. Notably, the allocations encompass two flashpoint seats-Vaishali and Bachhwara-which Congress has vociferously claimed during protracted negotiations with RJD and the Communist Party of India (CPI). Commenting on the seat negotiations, senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot said, "I believe the decision will be made in a day or two. Discussions are underway, and I think a final call will be taken soon." The symbol distribution preceded high-stakes discussions at the residence of former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi, where Congress representatives engaged with RJD heir apparent Tejashwi Yadav. Sources familiar with the parleys indicate that RJD has tentatively greenlit an allocation of 61 seats to Congress-up from initial demands-while conceding a handful of the disputed ones. This compromise, if finalized, would mark a thaw in relations strained by earlier standoffs over winnability and equity....