Even as stalemate continues in Bihar Mahagathbandhan over seat-sharing for the upcoming Assembly Election in the state, two Congress leaders on Friday indicated that Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav will be the chief ministerial face of the opposition alliance.
Congress MP Akhilesh Singh was quoted as telling reporters in Patna that Tejashwi Yadav is the leader of the alliance. “Tejashwi Yadav is the CM face (of Mahagathbandhan). Seat-sharing is being done…,” Singh said.
Congress MP from Katihar, Tariq Anwar, too, earlier today said that there was “no harm” in declaring the name of Tejashwi Yadav as Mahagathbandhan’s chief ministerial candidate.
“I think there is no harm in doing it,” Anwar told news agency ANI. The Katihar MP also sought clarity from the NDA on its CM candidate in Bihar.
“I think both the NDA and our alliance should make things clear (on CM candidature) and tell what they intend to do in future,” he said. It may, however, be noted that the NDA has said that incumbent CM Nitish Kumar will continue to remain its face in the state polls.
Meanwhile, commenting on the rumblings within the alliance over the seat-sharing arrangement, even as the Congress released its first list of 48 candidates last night, Anwar acknowledged that Vikassheel Insaan Party chief Mukesh Sahani was “upset” over the proposed seat-sharing formula.
“He is upset. I think we also made a mistake. We had ample time, and things should have been decided earlier,” he said.
The NDA had earlier announced its seat-sharing formula, stating the BJP and Janata Dal (United) will contest on 101 seats each. Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) and Rajya Sabha MP Upendra Kushwaha’s Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) were allotted six seats each, while Union Minister Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) was allocated 29 seats.
Voting for the Bihar elections 2025 will take place on November 6 and 11, while the results will be announced on November 14.