In a move that has seemingly settled the political landscape for now, the opposition’s Mahagathbandhan alliance in Bihar has officially named Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav as its chief ministerial face for the forthcoming assembly elections. Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) chief Mukesh Sahani has been appointed as a deputy chief ministerial candidate, with potential for further additions to this list.
The announcement comes after a period of deliberation, primarily due to the Congress party’s initial hesitation to endorse Tejashwi Yadav as the CM face, which had reportedly stalled seat-sharing agreements between the RJD and Congress. Tejashwi Yadav currently holds the position of leader of the opposition in the Bihar assembly.
A Diplomatic Diwali Call
The breakthrough in negotiations between the RJD and Congress reportedly occurred following a phone call from former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot to Tejashwi Yadav on Diwali. During their festive exchange, Tejashwi Yadav extended an invitation to Gehlot to visit his father and RJD chief, Lalu Prasad Yadav, in Patna. Gehlot subsequently visited Patna on October 22nd, meeting with Lalu Yadav and his family.
Ashok Gehlot, who serves as the All India Congress Committee’s (AICC) senior observer for the Bihar elections and is overseeing Congress’s contest in 20 of the 61 seats allocated to the party, played a crucial role. In the 2020 Bihar elections, the Congress secured 19 seats.
According to an alliance leader, the Congress’s reluctance to project Tejashwi as the CM face was a key point of contention. Simultaneously, the RJD had reservations about including Mukesh Sahani’s party in the alliance. Ultimately, the Congress agreed to support Tejashwi Yadav’s nomination as CM face, contingent on Sahani being given the deputy CM position.
Mukesh Sahani, whose party is contesting 11 seats within the alliance, is a prominent figure from the Nishad community, also known as the Mallaah community. This community, traditionally involved in fishing and riverine activities, is a significant OBC group across North India, particularly in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and West Bengal.
Initially, Sahani had sought 60 seats and the deputy CM post, later reducing his demands to 30 seats. Tejashwi Yadav was reportedly hesitant to accommodate Sahani’s party, believing that the Mallaah voters would naturally support the RJD. However, Rahul Gandhi, a proponent of backward community issues, favored including Sahani, often referred to as the ‘Son of Mallah’, as a prominent face of the alliance.
A United Front Presented
Ashok Gehlot officially announced the CM and deputy CM candidates on October 23rd at Hotel Maurya in Patna. The alliance leaders presented a united front, with RJD MP Manoj Jha emphasizing the importance of ‘ekta’ or unity among the partners.
The press conference was attended by Tejashwi Yadav, Mukesh Sahani, Bihar Congress in-charge Krishna Allavaru, Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee (BPCC) president Rajesh Ram, and representatives from Left parties.
An official seat-sharing agreement among the alliance partners has yet to be finalized. However, an informal understanding suggests that the RJD will contest 143 out of Bihar’s 243 seats, the Congress will contest 61 seats, the CPI(ML)-L will contest 20, and the remaining seats are likely to be allocated to Mukesh Sahani’s VIP.
Despite the outward display of unity, a faction of disgruntled Congress leaders, including former MLAs, protested the denial of tickets at Sadakant Ashram, the Bihar Congress office, a short distance from the announcement venue.
Internal tensions remain evident, with reports of RJD and Congress candidates contesting against each other in at least five seats, and Congress facing off against the smaller ally CPI in three other constituencies.
As Bihar embraces the Chhath festivities, Tejashwi Yadav is preparing to commence his campaign trail. It’s worth noting that Tejashwi Yadav had previously declared Rahul Gandhi as the INDIA bloc’s prime ministerial candidate, a statement likely aimed at the 2029 general elections.