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Patna: The Opposition INDIA bloc on Thursday formally declared RJD leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav as its Chief Ministerial candidate for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections. The announcement, made at a joint press conference in Patna, marks a crucial step in consolidating the alliance ahead of the polls.
Senior Congress leader and party observer for Bihar, Ashok Gehlot, made the announcement after consultations with coalition partners. “I have talked to everyone, and we have agreed to make Tejashwi Yadav the CM face. He has a long political career ahead of him and will have the approval of the people,” Gehlot said.
He also announced that Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) founder Mukesh Sahni would be one of the Deputy Chief Ministerial faces of the alliance, while another Deputy CM will be announced later.
Boost for Mahagathbandhan, Unease in Congress
Projecting Tejashwi Yadav as the CM face is seen as a major boost for the Mahagathbandhan, especially among the youth and backward caste voters. However, the move has not been without controversy. A section of the Congress expressed unease over Rahul Gandhi’s absence from the alliance’s posters, which prominently featured Tejashwi’s image.
Independent MP Pappu Yadav remarked, “The vote will happen in the face of Rahul Gandhi and no one else,” reflecting internal rumblings within the Congress camp.
Meanwhile, seat-sharing talks remain unresolved, with at least 11 Assembly constituencies witnessing overlapping claims among alliance partners.
Tejashwi’s Attack on NDA and Nitish Kumar
Accepting the alliance’s decision, Tejashwi Yadav thanked coalition partners and launched a sharp attack on the NDA government and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
“Amit Shah is now saying MLAs will elect the CM — something he didn’t say earlier. It shows confusion and manipulation,” Yadav said, accusing the Nitish-led administration of rampant corruption and lawlessness.
He criticised the NDA for failing to release its election manifesto, alleging that it had copied his welfare promises, including measures on old-age pension, women empowerment, and free electricity.
“When I was in government, we conducted a caste survey and raised reservations to 65 per cent. But the anti-backward government at the Centre did not include it in Schedule 9 of the Constitution,” Yadav alleged.
‘New Bihar’ Vision and Job Pledge
Promising a “new Bihar” if voted to power, Tejashwi reiterated his commitment to providing one government job per family, creating new employment opportunities, and ensuring that “no youth is forced to migrate for work.”
“The NDA keeps talking about ‘jungle raj’. But today, murders and sexual assaults happen daily with no action taken. We will not compromise with corruption or law and order,” he said.
Yadav further accused the BJP of dividing society on caste and religious lines, while asserting that 20 years of Nitish Kumar’s rule had failed to bring prosperity, leaving Bihar among the poorest states in the country.
Alliance Leaders Echo Unity Call
CPI(ML) General Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya also addressed the press conference, vowing to “change the government in Bihar” and pledging full support to Tejashwi’s leadership.
Political observers view the announcement as a major personal and political victory for Tejashwi Yadav, given the Congress’s earlier hesitation to endorse him as the alliance’s CM face.
