Patna— The Opposition INDIA bloc on Thursday named Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav as its Chief Ministerial candidate for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections. The announcement was made during a joint press conference in Patna attended by top leaders from all alliance partners.
Senior Congress leader and party observer for the Bihar polls, Ashok Gehlot, announced the decision, saying, “After discussions with all partners, we have unanimously agreed to project Tejashwi Yadav as the Chief Ministerial face. He has a bright political future and the people’s support will validate our choice.”
Gehlot further revealed that Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) founder Mukesh Sahni would be one of the Deputy Chief Ministers if the alliance comes to power, while another Deputy CM would be named later. The move is seen as a major boost for the Mahagathbandhan, particularly among youth and backward caste voters who view Tejashwi as a fresh and dynamic alternative.
However, the Congress faced internal murmurs over Rahul Gandhi’s absence from the alliance posters, which only featured Tejashwi Yadav. Independent MP Pappu Yadav remarked, “The vote will be cast in the name of Rahul Gandhi, and no one else.”
Despite the unity on leadership, the alliance is yet to resolve seat-sharing disputes, with reports of overlapping claims on at least 11 constituencies.
Gehlot also took a swipe at the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) for not declaring its Chief Ministerial candidate, comparing the situation to Maharashtra’s political twists after elections. He accused the Election Commission of showing “partiality” in its conduct.
Expressing gratitude for the alliance’s trust, Tejashwi Yadav pledged to build a “new Bihar” rooted in employment, transparency, and social justice. “When I was in power, we conducted the caste survey and raised reservations to 65%. But the Centre refused to include it in Schedule 9 of the Constitution,” he said.
Tejashwi accused the NDA government led by Nitish Kumar of “corruption, lawlessness, and betrayal of the people’s trust.” He said, “The NDA talks about ‘jungle raj,’ but today Bihar witnesses daily murders and crimes against women without any justice.”
He also criticised the NDA for allegedly copying his welfare proposals. “They have no vision of their own. They are stealing my promises on pensions, women empowerment, and free power. Bihar deserves a government that works, not one that divides,” he added.
Promising employment as his core agenda, Tejashwi reiterated his commitment to providing one government job per family and ensuring that “no youth has to migrate for livelihood.”
CPI-ML General Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya, also present at the event, vowed that the alliance would “end the Nitish-BJP rule” and bring real change to Bihar.
The announcement of Tejashwi as the CM face marks a major political win for him within the INDIA bloc, especially after initial hesitation from the Congress leadership.
