In a significant development for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav has been declared the Chief Ministerial candidate for the Mahagathbandhan alliance. The announcement came from senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot during a joint press conference held by the INDIA bloc, signaling a united front ahead of the polls.
This strategic move follows closely on the heels of efforts by the Congress high command to mend any potential rifts within the grand alliance. Ashok Gehlot, appointed as the Senior Election Observer by the All India Congress Committee (AICC), met with RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav in Patna. The meetings were aimed at addressing reports of internal disagreements among alliance partners, particularly concerning seat-sharing discussions and the concept of a “friendly fight” on certain assembly seats.
Following these high-level discussions, Gehlot expressed confidence in the alliance’s solidarity. “The INDIA bloc is fully united,” he assured reporters, emphasizing the strong coordination between Congress and RJD leadership.
Earlier in the day, Ram Naresh Pandey, a leader from the Communist Party of India (CPI), affirmed Tejashwi Yadav’s position as the chief ministerial candidate. “CM face of Mahagathbandhan is Tejashwi Yadav. So, any controversy on the poster is unnecessary. We are holding the press conference as a united front,” Pandey stated, reinforcing the unified message from the alliance.