New Delhi: In the Bihar assembly elections, the Mahagathbandhan i.e. India block has declared Tejashwi Yadav as the chief minister’s post and VIP’s Mukesh Sahni as the face of the deputy CM. Congress insiders said the announcement was made strategically to put pressure on the ruling NDA ahead of the Bihar assembly polls.
Elections for 243 assembly seats in Bihar will be held on November 6 and November 11. The results will be out on November 14. The India Bloc has been working hard to remove the ruling NDA, which has been in power for the last two decades.
Congress sources said that the announcement of the CM face of the opposition by senior Congress leader and former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot in the capital Patna on Thursday was aimed at sending a message to the marginalized groups in the electoral state of Bihar and also to demonstrate unity within the India block.
RJD leader Tejashwi comes from the influential Yadav (OBC) community, which has supported the RJD as well as other backward groups over the past several decades. Sources say that the VIP joining the opposition alliance this time and the advance of Mukesh Sahni, who comes from the fishermen’s community, will help the India Block to woo the most backward communities, who have traditionally supported the JD(U) leader and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
“Avinash Pandey, one of the Congress’s national observers for the Bihar elections and AICC functionary, told ETV India, “”It was a deliberate move.” We have announced the names of our Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister. This has shown clarity on the leadership issue within the opposition. It has also shown that the opposition is united. Will the NDA still do the same and clarify its leadership position? The BJP has been enjoying power by supporting Nitish Kumar for decades, but has been saying that the NDA’s chief minister will be decided after the elections. Voters will now assess both groups (ruling and opposition).
According to Pandey, the announcement of the chief ministerial candidate has put an end to reports of discord over the distribution of seats within the India block. He said that in some seats where there was a possibility of a friendly contest, the situation of confusion would be resolved soon. The AICC functionary said the party will soon launch a joint campaign with emphasis on various social welfare schemes for different sections of the society.
On October 22, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had sent Gehlot to Patna to meet RJD chief Lalu Prasad and Tejashwi Yadav and resolve differences within the alliance. On Thursday, a solidarity was announced in the India Bloc, though Rahul Gandhi was not present at the time. “””Gahlot represented Rahul Gandhi.” He is a senior leader who is respected by all allies. The coalition’s joint campaign will start soon and will mainly target the failures of the NDA government.
According to Congress Lok Sabha MP Mohammad Javed, making Tejashwi Yadav the CM face of the India Block will help woo young voters who had earlier participated in the job-seeking journey of the country’s oldest party, the Congress. He said that this step will also open the poll of the BJP.
“Javed told ETV Bharat, “”The BJP has been enjoying power for decades by supporting Nitish Kumar as the chief minister, but this time they will remove him after the elections because they want the CM’s chair.”””
According to Javed, the NDA will see a repetition of the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections, when the BJP projected ally and Shiv Sena CM Eknath Shinde before the elections, but established its leader Devendra Fadnavis after the elections.
“””The BJP wants the chief minister’s chair, but so far no announcement has been made on this issue,”” Javed said.” They allege differences within the grand alliance, but there are actually cracks within the NDA. BJP allies are not speaking openly due to fear of central agencies. Those who cry for harmony in the grand alliance should now announce the name of the NDA’s chief ministerial candidate. The Mahagathbandhan is united and the people of Bihar are appreciating our unity. That is why the grand alliance is maintaining its lead.
Congress sources said that the non-considencement of seats in Bihar will not have much impact than the anger of the ally Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), as the regional party of Jharkhand has very little presence in Bihar.
