Bihar Election: Opposition Alliance Struggles to Finalize CM Candidate With Election Less Than 30 Days Away

New Delhi:

The Bihar election is approaching within 30 days, and the opposition Mahagathbandhan - primarily comprising Tejashwi Yadav's Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Congress - continues to face uncertainty regarding their chief ministerial candidate.

Congress leader Udit Raj intensified this uncertainty on Tuesday when he told PTI that while Tejashwi Yadav might be the RJD's choice for Chief Minister, he hasn't yet been confirmed as the INDIA bloc's official candidate. The INDIA bloc is the national-level anti-BJP coalition led by Congress that includes the RJD.

"He may be the chief ministerial face for the RJD... but the INDIA bloc's chief ministerial face will be decided collectively," Raj stated when questioned about Yadav being formalized as the opposition's campaign leader following the Election Commission's announcement of voting dates.

"Look, any supporter of any party can do that (name that party's leader a Chief Minister) ... but the India bloc's candidate has not been decided. Let us see what the Congress HQ decides."

Neither the RJD nor Yadav has responded to Udit Raj's remarks, which follow Yadav's definitive statement to NDTV weeks earlier that "we will not contest without projecting a chief ministerial face".

This ongoing debate about the chief ministerial candidate has persisted for months now.

Beyond the RJD-Congress leadership circle, Yadav is widely considered the only viable option - the only opposition leader with sufficient influence and support, both from political leaders and citizens, to effectively challenge Janata Dal United leader and veteran politician Nitish Kumar for the top position.

His credentials appear strengthened by the fact that he - son of party patriarch Lalu Prasad Yadav and former Deputy Chief Minister - led the RJD to secure 75 seats (out of 243) in 2020.

Nevertheless, Congress has consistently refused to publicly endorse Tejashwi Yadav for this role, maintaining that the question remains under discussion and will be addressed at an unspecified later stage.

In August, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi evaded the question, telling reporters, "INDIA bloc partners are working... without tension. We will contest together and the results will be good." Tejashwi Yadav was seated beside Gandhi during this statement.

The BJP quickly highlighted this evasion as evidence of fractures within the opposition alliance.

A week later, Yadav appeared to emphasize his bid for Chief Minister while simultaneously seeming to endorse Gandhi as the next Prime Minister, suggesting a possible quid pro quo arrangement.

In June, sources indicated that Congress is attempting to shed its 'junior partner' status in Bihar.

The situation resembles that in Tamil Nadu, where Congress has been the secondary (and generally quiet) ally of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in the last three successful elections.

However, unlike Tamil Nadu - where national parties, including the BJP, struggle to gain traction - Congress reportedly seeks to elevate beyond its secondary status in Bihar. This vision has been reinforced by Rahul Gandhi's numerous visits and rallies, including the recent Jan Adhikar Yatra aimed at raising voter awareness amid allegations against the Election Commission.

Despite the apparent genuine camaraderie between Gandhi and Yadav, the RJD has clearly stated its position - Tejashwi Yadav is their chief ministerial candidate.

The implied message to Congress is therefore to either accept this or withdraw from the alliance. The latter seems unlikely, given the party's relatively weaker performance in 2020.

However, Congress will eventually need to establish its independent identity to assess the impact of Gandhi's numerous campaigns and speeches across the state. With this objective, party state leaders insist, according to sources, that they could contest November's election without RJD support.

The 2025 election will be critical for the Mahagathbandhan as it attempts to unseat Nitish Kumar - who has maintained his position since 2015 - and his current ally, the BJP.

Voting will occur in two phases - November 6 and 11 - with results announced on November 14.