Ending weeks of speculation, the Grand Alliance (Mahagathbandhan) in Bihar on Wednesday officially declared RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav as its Chief Ministerial candidate for the upcoming Assembly elections.
The announcement was made at a joint press conference held at Hotel Maurya in Patna, where senior Congress leader and former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot made the declaration in the presence of leaders from all alliance partners.
“Tejashwi Yadav is young, capable, and a man of commitment. He has fulfilled his promises and has a long political career ahead. The Grand Alliance will contest this election under his leadership. He will be our Chief Ministerial face,” Gehlot said.
Gehlot also announced that Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) chief Mukesh Sahani would be the alliance’s face for the Deputy Chief Minister’s post, adding, “All is well within the Grand Alliance. We will contest together with full unity and strength.”
The decision addresses one of the key issues that has delayed the seat-sharing agreement between the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Congress, which is yet to be formally announced.
Earlier this week, the RJD had released a list of 143 candidates, while the Congress — which initially demanded 70 seats, the same as in 2020 when it won only 19 — was reportedly asked to scale down its demand.
Most allies, including the CPI-ML, CPI, CPI(M), and VIP, had already backed Tejashwi Yadav as the CM face, but the Congress had maintained that the leadership question should be settled after the elections.
Wednesday’s decision now puts an end to that uncertainty, with all alliance partners unanimously backing Tejashwi Yadav.
Political analysts say the move could energize the Grand Alliance’s core support base, especially among youth and backward caste voters, while projecting a united opposition against the ruling NDA, led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
The NDA, comprising the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Janata Dal (United), Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular), and Rashtriya Lok Morcha, will face off against the Mahagathbandhan, which includes the RJD, Congress, CPI-ML, CPI, CPI(M), and VIP.
Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj has also announced plans to contest all 243 seats, further intensifying the electoral contest.
The Bihar Assembly elections will be held in two phases on November 6 and 11, with vote counting scheduled for November 14.
-IANS