The I.N.D.I.A. bloc is seeking to regain momentum in Bihar’s assembly elections by officially naming Tejashwi Yadav as its Chief Ministerial face and Mukesh Sahani as Deputy Chief Minister. The move, expected to solidify the alliance, comes after Congress overcame its hesitation to endorse Yadav and RJD agreed to accept Sahani, who had previously exited the alliance in 2020.
The bloc believes that presenting a united front will send a clear message to Bihar’s diverse castes and communities and help bridge the narrow 2020 vote gap of approximately 12,700 votes against the NDA.
The first joint press conference on September 24, following the release of the Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs) agenda, marked the public debut of alliance leaders since the election schedule announcement.
Despite some unresolved differences and “friendly fights” in ten constituencies, leaders downplayed conflicts, emphasizing minor concessions could resolve remaining issues. Senior Congress negotiator Ashok Gehlot played a key role in ironing out tensions, persuading the party to endorse Yadav while asking cadres to let bygones be bygones.
Naming Sahani as Deputy CM aims to secure the support of the Nishad community, constituting roughly 9-10% of Bihar’s population. While VIP had initially demanded 60 seats, it settled for 15 after intervention from Rahul Gandhi and CPI(ML)L’s Dipankar Bhattacharya, preventing the party from leaving the alliance.
At the press conference, Tejashwi attacked the NDA, asserting a vision for Bihar’s progress and criticizing JD(U) and Nitish Kumar’s role in the state. The bloc also seeks to capitalize on voter dissatisfaction with Nitish, targeting EBCs, women, and other core segments.
Tejashwi highlighted initiatives like permanent jobs with Rs 30,000 salaries for Jeevika Didis and community workers, aiming to counter the perceived “bribe” of Rs 10,000 transfers to women.
With this strategy, the I.N.D.I.A. bloc hopes to present a cohesive, inclusive alternative to the NDA and consolidate its electoral prospects in Bihar.