After weeks of hectic negotiations and internal debates, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav was officially announced as the Mahagathbandhan’s chief ministerial candidate at a high-profile press conference that doubled as a show of opposition unity. Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) chief Mukesh Sahani, who had driven a tough bargain during seat-sharing discussions, was declared the deputy chief ministerial candidate.
“After consulting all senior leaders, we have unanimously decided that Tejashwi Yadav will be the Mahagathbandhan’s chief ministerial face for the upcoming Bihar elections. He has a promising future ahead,” said senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot, who was dispatched to Patna as a troubleshooter to resolve internal rifts within the alliance. Gehlot also announced that, if the INDIA bloc formed the government, another leader from a backward community would be appointed as a second deputy chief minister alongside Sahani, who holds sway among the Nishad community.
The decision—made barely two weeks before polling—leaves the opposition alliance with limited time to rally its campaign machinery and project a united front.
Bihar will vote in two phases, on November 6 and 11, with the results scheduled for November 14. The announcement event, however, was not without controversy—Rahul Gandhi’s picture was missing from the venue’s posters, prompting the BJP to ridicule the Congress.
Tejashwi, who will contest from his traditional Raghopur constituency, expressed gratitude to Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi for backing him as the alliance’s face. Until now, the Congress had avoided formally endorsing Tejashwi despite his growing rapport with Rahul during the Voter Adhikar Yatra.
“We in the Mahagathbandhan are not here just to grab power,” Tejashwi declared. “We want to transform Bihar. The NDA’s so-called double-engine government runs on corruption and crime—and we are determined to change that.”
Despite the show of unity, uncertainty remains over seat-sharing arrangements. Several constituencies continue to see overlapping nominations, with about 10 seats still disputed. The RJD, the largest partner, has fielded 143 candidates, while the Congress will contest 61. The remaining seats are divided among the CPI(ML), VIP, and other smaller allies.
With today marking the final day for candidate withdrawals in the second phase, failure to resolve these overlaps could lead to direct contests between alliance partners in up to 12 seats, potentially splitting the opposition vote and aiding the NDA.
