Patna: The ongoing dispute among Grand Alliance constituents in Bihar has been resolved, with Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav officially declared the Chief Ministerial face. The announcement was made at a joint press conference attended by Congress leaders, including Ashok Gehlot and Shashi Tharoor.
Congress, which generally avoids naming a CM candidate before elections, made an exception in Bihar — signaling its full support for the RJD-led alliance. “This is a good step. Voters prefer to vote for a face. People should know who they are voting for. This sends a very good message,” said Congress MP Shashi Tharoor.
Alliance Unity Restored; Nominations Withdrawn
In a major show of unity, three candidates withdrew their nominations from constituencies that were subject to seat-sharing disputes.
Congress candidates Satish Singh alias Manthan Singh (Warsaliganj, Nawada) and Tauqeer Alam (Pranpur), along with VIP candidate Bindu Gulab Yadav (Babubarhi, Madhubani), have pulled out of the race, clearing the way for RJD nominees to contest these seats.
Party insiders say the withdrawals mark a “positive signal” for coordination within the alliance ahead of the second phase of the Bihar Assembly elections.
Tejashwi’s Rally Marathon Begins Today
Tejashwi Yadav will begin his statewide campaign from Friday, addressing back-to-back rallies in Simri Bakhtiyarpur (Saharsa), Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur, Samastipur, and Vaishali. His campaign will focus on employment, education, and governance — the key planks of the RJD’s election pitch.
Meanwhile, CPI(ML) General Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya will hold a major rally in Ara in support of Grand Alliance candidates, underscoring Left parties’ continued presence within the coalition.
‘BJP Will Not Make Nitish Kumar CM’: Tejashwi’s Counterattack
Launching a sharp attack on the BJP, Tejashwi Yadav said at the press conference, “We have made it clear who will be the Chief Minister. But the BJP will not make Nitish Kumar the CM. Amit Shah has been saying the decision will be taken in the legislative party meeting. Why can’t they project Nitish Kumar now? This is his last election — Amit Shah himself said so.”
Yadav further claimed that the Grand Alliance had delivered tangible results during its previous 17-month tenure. “People have faith in us. We’ve said that if the people of Bihar give us even 20 months, not 5 years, we’ll complete all the work we promised,” he asserted.
The Road Ahead
With internal disputes resolved and Tejashwi Yadav formally declared the face of the alliance, the Grand Alliance is aiming for a consolidated campaign in the coming phases. Political observers believe the move could help the bloc counter the BJP’s narrative and solidify voter sentiment in its favor across key constituencies.
