Adding to the alliance’s image crisis are allegations that party tickets were being sold for money. Then there are legacy issues Tejashwi may have to face is mind the RJD’s past related with father, former Chief Minister Lalu Prasad, and allegations of ‘jungle raaj’ associated with the party.
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav is expected to be officially announced as the chief ministerial candidate of the INDIA bloc in Bihar on Thursday. The development follows meetings on Wednesday between senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot, state in-charge Krishna Allavaru, and RJD patriarch Lalu Prasad Yadav aimed at resolving a weeks-long deadlock within the opposition alliance.
Although the Congress has not issued a formal statement on the meeting’s outcome, CPI(ML) general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya indicated that Tejashwi’s candidature could be formally declared at a joint press conference on Thursday. “Everyone in Bihar knows Tejashwi will lead the government if the INDIA bloc secures a majority,” Bhattacharya was quoted as saying.
As far as Congress is concerned, Gehlot told reporters that “all confusion over the CM face will end today,” though he avoided confirming details. The Congress had so far been hesitant to publicly endorse Tejashwi as the alliance’s leader in Bihar, even as the RJD acknowledged Rahul Gandhi as the INDIA bloc’s choice for prime minister in the next general election.
Addressing reports of seat-sharing disputes that led to INDIA bloc partners contesting against each other, Gehlot dismissed the issue, calling such “friendly fights” common in coalition politics. “People of Bihar want change. They understand that our unity is essential for the country’s future,” he said.
Tejashwi, meanwhile, sought to downplay talk of divisions. “There is no controversy or confusion in the INDIA bloc. We’ll speak tomorrow, and you’ll get answers to all your questions,” he told the media.
The last major show of unity among the bloc’s top leaders came during the launch of the ‘Ati Pichhda EBC Sankalp Patra’ in Patna on September 24, attended by Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Tejashwi Yadav, and Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) chief Mukesh Sahani.
However, the alliance continues to grapple with internal friction unlike the united face of the BJP-JD(U)-LJP NDA . The RJD has announced 143 candidates, while the Congress has fielded 61, leaving several overlapping claims unresolved. Smaller allies, including the Left parties and VIP, have voiced dissatisfaction, and the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) has already withdrawn from the coalition after its seat demands were ignored. In several constituencies, both Congress and CPI candidates are contesting, potentially splitting the anti-NDA vote.
Behind the scenes, tensions have reportedly worsened due to what local leaders call “Delhi-style micromanagement.” Congress functionaries have accused state leaders Rajesh Ram and Krishna Allavaru of running the campaign like a “corporate setup,” sidelining grassroots workers. Some insiders believe that bringing in a more seasoned negotiator, such as Bhupesh Baghel, might have averted the standoff.
Adding to the alliance’s image crisis are allegations that party tickets were being sold for money, eroding public trust. Then there are legacy issues Tejashwi may have to face is mind the RJD’s past related with father, former Chief Minister Lalu Prasad, and allegations of ‘jungle raaj’ associated with the party.
For the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), the opposition’s disarray has proven politically advantageous. With the NDA projecting a united and disciplined front, analysts say the Mahagathbandhan’s internal turmoil risks alienating voters who saw it as a credible alternative.
