Patna: RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav on Saturday said the Grand Alliance would not contest the forthcoming state assembly polls without declaring a chief ministerial candidate. A section of leaders in ally Congress remains hesitant to endorse him as the CM face.
“Are we the BJP that we do not have leaders for the post of the chief minister? We will contest the assembly elections only after projecting a leader as the chief ministerial face,” Tejashwi told reporters in response to questions about the Grand Alliance’s leadership in Bihar.
On Saturday, Tejashwi returned to Patna after covering 11 districts during his ‘Bihar Adhikar Yatra,’ launched from Jehanabad on Sept 16 to highlight unemployment, rising crime and other issues ahead of the assembly elections. The yatra concluded in Vaishali district.
His solo campaign came soon after the high-profile ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra,’ which featured all Mahagathbandhan leaders and was led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Although Tejashwi participated, the spotlight largely fell on Rahul, who has been spearheading a national campaign against alleged vote theft and accusing the Election Commission of favouring the BJP.
The RJD clarified that Tejashwi’s yatra was designed to cover only those districts not included in the ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra.’ Yet, its timing, amid ongoing debate over the opposition’s CM face and unresolved seat-sharing talks, has fuelled speculation about whether Tejashwi has additional political objectives in mind.
Recently, at a rally in Muzaffarpur, he startled many by saying, “And this time, Tejashwi will contest all 243 seats, whether it is Muzaffarpur, Kanti or Bochahan.” Observers interpreted the remarks as an attempt to underline his authority as the opposition alliance’s undisputed leader. Later, he clarified there was “no confusion” regarding the CM face and that the name would be announced at the “right time.”
Tejashwi’s insistence on an early declaration stems from the RJD’s strength within the alliance. In the last assembly polls, it secured 75 seats, the highest tally and one more than the BJP. However, the Congress has so far refused to formally back him as the CM candidate.
During the ‘Voter Adhikaar Yatra,’ Rahul Gandhi sidestepped direct questions on the matter, merely emphasising the “good understanding” among partners. This, despite Tejashwi previously declaring that Rahul would become PM once the opposition secured victory in the next Lok Sabha elections.
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