Patna: The Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) of opposition parties in Bihar held its first formal meeting on Thursday ahead of this year’s assembly elections, forging a coordination committee to steer the alliance’s strategy and campaign.
The meeting, convened at the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) office in Patna, brought together top leaders from the Congress, RJD, CPI, CPI(M), CPI(ML), and Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP). Deliberations began at 2.15pm, with Left leaders opening the discussion, followed by representatives of other alliance partners. Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, RJD leader and former deputy chief minister, addressed the gathering at the conclusion of the session.
A key outcome of the meeting was the formation of a coordination committee comprising representatives from all member parties. Tejashwi Yadav has been entrusted with leading the committee, which will oversee poll preparations, campaign strategy, and grassroots mobilisation.
Briefing the media after the meeting, Congress’s Bihar in-charge Krishna Allavaru said the alliance had reached a consensus on several issues, including the formulation of a common minimum programme, coordination among party cadres across different levels, and measures to ensure voter list integrity.
“All parties agreed to work in a united manner and reflect the concerns of the people of Bihar in our joint campaign,” Allavaru said at a joint press conference alongside Tejashwi.
Tejashwi, in his remarks, said the discussion focused on critical issues such as migration, poverty, unemployment, and the deteriorating law and order situation. “Women are facing increasing violence, police are being attacked, and there is no rule of law left in Bihar,” he alleged.
With Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge scheduled to visit Bihar on April 19–20, alliance sources indicated that further clarity on the seat-sharing formula and campaign leadership may emerge in the coming days.
