The opposition INDIA bloc officially announced Tejashwi Yadav, leader of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), as its chief ministerial candidate for the upcoming Bihar assembly elections on Thursday. This decision is perceived as a last-ditch effort to resolve internal conflicts and project unity ahead of the polls. Senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot conveyed that the choice had the endorsement of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and prominent leader Rahul Gandhi.
During a packed press conference in Patna, Gehlot indicated that Mukesh Sahni, the head of the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP), alongside leaders from various societal sections, would serve as deputy chief ministers if the INDIA bloc assumes power, taking into account Bihar’s complex social fabric. “After discussions with our national president and opposition leader, as well as all coalition partners, we have chosen Tejashwi Yadav as our chief ministerial candidate,” Gehlot stated.
Sahni, a former Bollywood set designer turned politician, entered the political arena in 2014 by campaigning for the BJP but later claimed the party failed to deliver on promises made to his community regarding Scheduled Castes status. He founded VIP in 2015 and, though initially working with the Congress-RJD alliance, returned to the NDA a year later, accusing Yadav of betrayal concerning a seat-sharing agreement. In the 2020 assembly elections, VIP secured four seats, and despite losing in Simri Bakhtiarpur, Sahni was inducted into Nitish Kumar’s cabinet. His outspoken criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath during the 2022 Uttar Pradesh elections drew backlash from the BJP, resulting in his expulsion from the cabinet as all VIP MLAs joined the BJP. He rejoined the INDIA bloc during last year’s Lok Sabha elections.
Notably, some Congress leaders in Bihar have expressed their desire to have a Muslim or Dalit leader as deputy chief minister if the coalition comes to power. Speaking at the press conference, Yadav, who led the Mahagathbandhan in the last assembly elections, expressed gratitude to his allies for their trust. He emphasized the importance of addressing media speculation around his candidacy, stating, “Tejashwi will never compromise on corruption and will spare nobody accused of a crime, whether it’s his own shadow or anyone influential.”
Yadav also dismissed the notion of “jungle raj” as propaganda perpetuated by the BJP, asserting the reality of crime and lack of support for victims in Bihar. Later, Pawan Khera, head of Congress’s media department, remarked that their announcement puts pressure on the NDA to clarify its chief ministerial candidate if it forms a government.
Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah recently suggested that the NDA would contest the elections under Nitish Kumar’s leadership but left the decision of the top post to legislators after the elections. This statement indicates the BJP’s interest in securing its own chief minister in Bihar, reflecting its stronger showing than JD(U) in previous elections.
Despite the opposition’s attempts at displaying unity, the NDA claims visible fractures within the INDIA bloc.
Original Source: https://theshillongtimes.com/2025/10/24/rjds-tejashwi-named-as-india-blocs-cm-candidate/
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Publish Date: 2025-10-24 05:06:00
