Patna: After weeks of reports about internal discord and speculation, the Mahagathbandhan alliance in Bihar has officially named Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav as its chief ministerial candidate, and Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) chief Mukesh Sahani as the nominee for deputy chief minister, for the upcoming Assembly elections.
The announcement was made during a joint press conference held at Hotel Maurya in Patna, where senior leaders from all constituent parties were present. Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, representing the Congress high command, made the formal declaration, stating, “Tejashwi Yadav is young and a man of commitment. He has fulfilled all the commitments he had promised. He has a long career. Hence, we have decided to contest this election under the leadership of Tejashwi Yadav. He will be our Chief Ministerial face.”
That put to rest uncertainties about a united decision among theMahagathbandhan allies and ended the standoff between the RJD and Congress over seat-sharing and leadership issues. The situation was also used by the rival BJP leadership to make jibes at their opponent INDIA alliance.
On the other hand the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is yet to officially declare its chief ministserial face, although speculations converge on the JD (U) leader Nitish Kumar's name again.
The Congress had initially demanded 70 seats, the same number it contested in the 2020 elections, despite winning only 19 and posting a strike rate of 27 per cent. RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav reportedly resisted the demand, citing the Congress’s underwhelming performance.
With nomination deadlines for the second phase approaching, the deadlock prompted intervention from the Congress leadership. Gehlot was dispatched to Patna to mediate and held talks with Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rabri Devi, and Tejashwi Yadav at the RJD chief’s residence on Wednesday. Following the meeting, Gehlot confirmed that all issues had been resolved and that the alliance would contest the elections in unity.
“All is well within the Grand Alliance. We will fight this election together with full strength and unity. We have resolved the issues of friendly fights on some seats,” Gehlot told reporters.
According to the final seat-sharing arrangement, the RJD will contest 143 seats, consolidating its influence among its core Muslim-Yadav (MY) voter base.
The formal endorsement of Tejashwi Yadav as the CM face also aligns with earlier support from alliance partners including CPI-ML, CPI, CPI(M), and VIP. The Congress had previously maintained that the leadership question should be settled post-election, but has now joined the consensus of deciding it before the polls.
Political observers see the move as a strategic boost for the Mahagathbandhan, particularly among young and backward caste voters. It also positions the alliance to challenge the NDA’s unified campaign led by incumbent Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
With internal disputes now resolved, the Grand Alliance is expected to intensify its outreach across Bihar in the final stretch of the campaign.
(Inputs from IANS)