Bihar :Rahul Gandhi Has Made It Clear – No Declaration on CM Face Yet, Signals Tensions Within INDIA Alliance

Poonam Sharma

Rahul Gandhi has made it clear that there will be no announcement regarding the chief ministerial face as of now. The absence of such a declaration suggests that the INDIA alliance may face internal friction over seat-sharing. Meanwhile, a major meeting of the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) was held in the state capital Patna on Thursday, April 17, ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections scheduled for later this year.

Although no official announcement was made after the meeting regarding the CM candidate, it has effectively been decided that RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal) leader Tejashwi Yadav will play the central role in the Bihar elections. RJD spokesperson Mrityunjay Tiwari even went as far as to announce that the election would be fought under Tejashwi Yadav’s leadership. His statement has reportedly created unease among Congress leaders, while the BJP has seized the opportunity to launch political attacks on both Congress and RJD.

BJP leaders remarked that the Grand Alliance seems to be caught in a “two-power center” situation. That’s why, they argue, there’s been no formal announcement of a CM face yet. Let’s listen to what RJD leader Mrityunjay Tiwari had to say, followed by a BJP leader’s response.

Mrityunjay Tiwari said, “The Mahagathbandhan’s meeting today was positive. Discussions happened, and party leaders spoke to the press. The INDIA alliance is united and clear in its purpose to fight for Bihar’s welfare. If Bihar is to be saved from ruin, then Tejashwi-led INDIA government must be formed. The public supports Tejashwi Yadav’s leadership. He is clearly the CM face; there should be no confusion about it. Some decisions take time, but let me be clear—Tejashwi is the CM face.”

On the other hand, BJP leaders are interpreting the developments differently. They argue that within the INDIA alliance, especially in Bihar, there is confusion and factionalism. “Rahul Gandhi has clearly stated that there will be no discussion on the CM face, which shows that Congress is not ready to become a mere ‘swing-partner’ in Bihar politics anymore. That’s why the coordination committee’s responsibility was cleverly handed over to an RJD leader. Congress doesn’t want to remain a decorative ally,” one BJP leader said.

He continued, “So, the fact that there’s no CM face announcement yet clearly indicates an upcoming power tussle within the INDIA alliance. There’s no real challenge for us. Just look at the last three elections—2019 Lok Sabha, 2020 Bihar Assembly, and 2024 Lok Sabha. If you review the Bihar Assembly numbers from those, we’re heading toward forming a majority government again. That’s proof enough of our strength.”

On Mukesh Sahani’s political position, a BJP leader said, “I never claimed he’s in touch with me. I only said that many important constituents of the Mahagathbandhan are searching for alternatives because they feel disrespected. Politics is the game of possibilities. Anything can happen. But if you analyze 2019, 2020, and 2024 election data in Bihar, it’s clear—we are winning a majority.”

This entire episode indicates that while the RJD is confident about Tejashwi Yadav’s leadership, the lack of a unified declaration hints at unresolved tensions within the INDIA alliance, especially between Congress and RJD When this disagreement and confused exist .