Darbhanga: The election scene in Bihar has taken an unexpected turn as RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav prepares to campaign against his own party’s candidate in the Gaura Bauram seat of Darbhanga district. The move comes after the seat was officially allocated to Mukesh Sahni’s Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) under the Grand Alliance seat-sharing arrangement.
The RJD had initially fielded Afzal Ali Khan from the constituency, even before the alliance partners had finalised their seat distribution. Khan was given the party symbol and nomination documents and had already departed for his constituency when the alliance deal was sealed — handing the seat to the VIP.
As per the agreement, VIP’s Santosh Sahni became the official candidate, with all Grand Alliance allies, including RJD, Congress, and Left parties, backing him. However, Khan refused to withdraw from the contest, choosing instead to proceed as an RJD nominee.
The RJD leadership attempted to convince Khan to return his party symbol and withdraw his nomination, but he refused. Since his papers and symbol had already been accepted by the administration, he could not be removed from the ballot. Consequently, Khan’s name will appear on electronic voting machines (EVMs) with the RJD’s lantern symbol, even though the party has disowned him.
This situation places Tejashwi Yadav in the unusual position of campaigning against a candidate bearing his own party’s symbol. The RJD and its allies are now rallying behind VIP’s Santosh Sahni, making this contest a key test of alliance discipline and voter perception in the region.
Observers believe that Khan’s presence could split the Grand Alliance vote in Gaura Bauram, potentially weakening the alliance’s prospects. The RJD, meanwhile, is attempting to project unity, despite internal friction over early ticket distribution and the complex seat-sharing dynamics.
