With the Bihar Assembly elections drawing near, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav has indicated a significant shift in the state’s political landscape, proposing the idea of multiple deputy chief ministers. This inclusive approach, if the opposition’s ‘grand alliance’ comes to power, could see representation from the Muslim and Dalit communities in these key positions.
In a recent interview, Yadav, who is the chief ministerial face for the Mahagathbandhan, stated that the concerns of various societal segments would be addressed. This statement follows remarks by senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot regarding the possibility of having more deputy chief ministers, a sentiment echoed by other political figures.
Tejashwi’s Past Statements on Deputy Chief Ministers
Yadav has previously expressed a similar vision, drawing parallels with Gehlot’s comments on expanding the deputy chief minister role. He has also subtly critiqued the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for its stance on the opposition’s potential choices for deputy chief minister, noting their tendency to create controversy over community representation.
“The BJP has issues with a representative from EBC being declared a Deputy CM face. Their IT cell has been trolling us for not naming a representative from a community they would otherwise call infiltrators,” Yadav had previously told Hindustan Times.
While not explicitly confirming a Muslim deputy chief minister, Yadav stated, “We are not ruling out that possibility. Let’s wait and watch. It can be from any community.” Senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot’s involvement in resolving seat-sharing disputes within the INDIA bloc in Bihar highlights the alliance’s efforts to maintain cohesion.
Bihar Election Overview
The stage is set for the highly anticipated elections in Bihar, with voting scheduled across 243 assembly seats in two phases on November 6 and 11. The results will be declared on November 14. Both the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the opposition bloc have unveiled their manifestos, outlining their promises and vision for the state.
The Mahagathbandhan’s manifesto, ‘Bihar ka Tejashwi Pran,’ includes pledges for government jobs, free electricity, and the restoration of the old pension scheme. A key promise is ensuring at least one government job per family within 20 months of forming the government.
The NDA’s manifesto, ‘Sankalp Patra,’ focuses on job creation, education, healthcare, infrastructure development, and women’s empowerment. It also commits to providing ₹10 lakh in financial assistance to Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs) for business ventures and establishing a commission to study their socio-economic conditions. Additionally, it promises ₹2,000 monthly to Scheduled Caste students in higher education and a venture fund for entrepreneurship.