Patna: The Mahagathbandhan alliance is poised to make a major political announcement on Thursday, with strong indications that Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav will be formally declared as its Chief Ministerial candidate for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections.
The speculation gained momentum following a high-level meeting in Patna on Wednesday, where Tejashwi Yadav and RJD patriarch Lalu Prasad Yadav held discussions with senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot and the party’s Bihar in-charge Krishna Allavaru. Though the Congress has remained tight-lipped about the outcome, the meeting is seen as a significant step toward cementing Tejashwi’s leadership role within the alliance.
Adding to the buzz is the visual messaging ahead of the scheduled press conference at Hotel Maurya in Patna. The event’s backdrop prominently features the election symbols of all Mahagathbandhan constituents, but only Tejashwi Yadav’s image dominates the banner. A bold slogan,“Bihar Maange Tejashwi Sarkar” (Bihar demands Tejashwi government) further underscores the alliance’s likely direction.
This will be the Mahagathbandhan’s first joint media appearance since the election schedule was announced. Their last public show of unity was on September 24 during the release of the 'Ati Pichhda EBC Sankalp Patra', attended by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Tejashwi Yadav, and Vikassheel Insaan Party chief Mukesh Sahani.
The alliance had also collaborated on Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’, which covered over 25 districts across Bihar, showcasing a united front.
While the Congress has so far avoided explicitly endorsing Tejashwi as the CM face, pressure within the alliance appears to be mounting. CPI(ML) General Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya voiced the sentiment, stating, “Tejashwi's name as the Opposition's CM candidate could be officially announced at the joint press conference on Thursday. Entire Bihar knows Tejashwi will be the CM if the Opposition bloc gets majority.”
Ashok Gehlot, however, remained non-committal, merely stating that “all confusion” would be cleared at the press conference.
Notably, the Congress has yet to mirror Tejashwi’s earlier endorsement of Rahul Gandhi as the Opposition’s prime ministerial candidate for the 2024 general elections , a gesture that highlighted Tejashwi’s willingness to align closely with the national leadership.
All eyes are now on Thursday’s press meet, which could mark a turning point in the Mahagathbandhan’s campaign strategy and leadership narrative.
(Inputs from IANS)