PATNA, Jan. 20 -- Over two months have passed since the state elections in Bihar, yet the Congress party hasn't appointed a leader for its legislature party (CLP) in the assembly. Senior party functionaries privately point to a deep-seated worry: the ruling NDA might poach the party's tiny group of MLAs if a leader is named too soon. In the past, the process was swift. After the 2020 polls, Ajeet Sharma from Bhagalpur was quickly chosen as CLP leader. The same happened in 2015 with Sadanand Singh. "Usually, the leader was elected before the new government faced its trust vote," recalled veteran Congress leader Kishore Kumar Jha. This time, with the budget session barely two weeks away, no decision has been taken. Both the party high command and the MLAs appear to be buying time. Few legislators are eager to take the post, and the state leadership is wary of exposing anyone to the NDA's overtures. The Congress contingent in the 243-member House is just six MLAs - its weakest-ever tally in Bihar and a sharp fall from the 19 seats it won in 2020 as part of the Mahagathbandhan. Only two of them are seen as deeply rooted in the party's traditional culture. Araria's Abidur Rahman is considered ideologically solid, but his visual impairment is cited as a practical hurdle for the demanding role of CLP leader. Abhishek Ranjan from Chanpatia rose through the NSUI ranks, but his known closeness to senior BJP figures - including former deputy chief minister Ranu Devi and ex-state BJP president Sanjay Jaiswal - has raised eyebrows. Manohar Prasad Singh (Manihari) came to Congress through a 2015 seat-sharing arrangement with the then-allied JD(U) and has stayed loyal since. Quamrul Hoda (Kishanganj) switched from Asaduddin Owaisi's AIMIM only days before the 2025 polls. The remaining two - Surendra Prasad Kushwaha (Valmiki Nagar) and Manoj Biswas (Forbesganj) - are relative newcomers still earning the party's full confidence. Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee president Rajesh Ram insisted the matter would be resolved soon. "We are in the final stages and it will definitely be sorted before the budget session begins," he told HT, brushing aside suggestions of poaching fears. Yet many in the party remain anxious. Just two years ago, during the 2024 budget session, two Congress MLAs - Murari Gautam from Chenari and Siddharth Saurav from Vikram - resigned from the party and crossed over. The ruling alliance is openly confident. Public Health and Engineering Department minister Sanjay Kumar of Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) claimed all six Congress legislators were in touch with the NDA and could switch sides any day after Makar Sankranti. "Talks are on," he said. A senior JD(U) leader echoed the sentiment, saying only Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's nod - expected after his ongoing Vikas Yatra - is pending. With Bihar's politics long notorious for defections and floor-crossing, Congress leaders are keeping their fingers crossed until the House assembles for the crucial Budget session....