All Eyes On Patna As Tejashwi Yadav Poised To Be Declared Mahagathbandhan’s CM Candidate

Hours before the Mahagathbandhan’s scheduled press briefing on Thursday, political circles are abuzz with talk that Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav may finally emerge as the alliance’s Chief Ministerial candidate.

Hints of a breakthrough emerged after Tejashwi Yadav, along with RJD patriarch Lalu Prasad Yadav, met senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot and the party’s Bihar in-charge Krishna Allavaru in Patna on Wednesday.

Attention has turned to the venue of the press meet, the Maurya Hotel in Patna, where a large backdrop displays the election symbols of all alliance partners but prominently features a single, dominant image of Tejashwi Yadav.

The banner also carries the slogan ‘Bihar maange Tejashwi sarkar’ (Bihar demands a Tejashwi government), further fuelling talk of a formal announcement.

Thursday’s appearance will also mark the Mahagathbandhan’s first joint interaction with the media since the poll schedule remained public.

Their last combined event took place on 24 September, when the bloc launched its Ati Pichhda EBC Sankalp Patra in Patna.

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Lok Sabha Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi, Tejashwi Yadav, and Vikassheel Insaan Party head Mukesh Sahani attended that gathering.

Pressure Builds Within the Alliance

Earlier, the Opposition alliance had also joined Rahul Gandhi’s Voter Adhikar Yatra, a 15-day outreach that spanned over 25 districts in Bihar.

Although the Congress has chosen not to disclose what transpired in Wednesday’s discussions, CPI(ML) General Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya hinted that allies were growing restless over the delay in formally projecting Tejashwi as the CM face.

“Tejashwi Yadav’s name could officially emerge as the Opposition’s CM candidate at the joint press conference on Thursday. Entire Bihar knows Tejashwi will be the CM if the Opposition bloc gets majority,” Bhattacharya remarked.

Ashok Gehlot adopted a more reserved stance, saying that the press conference would settle all confusion.

Until now, the Congress has been careful not to publicly endorse Tejashwi Yadav as the unanimous choice of the Opposition camp.

The party also has yet to reciprocate the RJD leader’s earlier move of endorsing Rahul Gandhi as the alliance’s prime ministerial candidate for the 2024 general elections.

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