Patna: The Communist Party of India-Marxist-Leninist (CPI-ML) has indicated that the opposition’s grand alliance in Bihar may contest the upcoming assembly elections without announcing a chief ministerial candidate in advance. However, CPI-ML general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya made it clear that Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, head of the largest opposition party, would be the natural choice for the top post if the alliance secures a majority.
Speaking in an interview with PTI, Bhattacharya said: “There may not be a formal announcement, but the RJD is the largest party in the India alliance. Therefore, the Leader of the Opposition (Tejashwi Yadav) is definitely the CM candidate. There is no ambiguity about this.”
The Congress, the second-largest party in the coalition, has so far remained silent on the question of leadership. Bhattacharya suggested the timing of any formal announcement may be tactical, noting: “Perhaps people think that any work should be done at the right time. We will do it when we get the majority.”
Tejashwi Yadav himself has previously said there is no confusion over the alliance’s leadership, adding that the announcement will be made “on time.”
Questions have also been raised within the alliance about deputy chief ministerial ambitions, after Mukesh Sahni of the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) declared himself a candidate for the post. Bhattacharya said such matters would only be settled after the results are known.
