In a significant move for the Bihar political landscape, the INDIA bloc, spearheaded by the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Congress, has released its official manifesto for the upcoming state elections. Dubbed ‘Tejashwi Pratigya Pran,’ the manifesto was unveiled at an event held in Patna.
The launch ceremony saw the presence of prominent leaders from the alliance, including RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, Congress leader Pawan Khera, and CPI(ML) Liberation General Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya, among others. Their participation underscored the united front the INDIA bloc aims to present to the electorate.
Bihar is scheduled to go to the polls in two phases, with voting on November 6 and November 11. The results are slated to be announced on November 14, making this manifesto a crucial piece of the electoral puzzle.
The Opposition Grand Alliance has put forward Tejashwi Yadav as its chief ministerial candidate and Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) chief Mukesh Sahani as the deputy chief ministerial face. This strategic positioning aims to consolidate the opposition’s support base.
However, the alliance has faced internal challenges, including public disagreements over seat-sharing and candidate selection. Reports indicate that “friendly fights” are occurring in approximately 10 constituencies. The RJD is set to contest 143 seats, the Congress will field candidates in 61, the VIP in 15, the three Left parties in 33, and the Indian Inclusive Party in one seat. The total number of candidates for the alliance stands at 253 for the 243 seats, highlighting the intense competition for positions within the alliance, which has reportedly impacted their campaign momentum over the past few weeks.