Ahead of the upcoming Bihar elections, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav has declared that the Grand Alliance will not contest the polls without projecting a Chief Ministerial face. This statement, made on September 19, 2025, has intensified speculation and debate surrounding the leadership question within the opposition coalition.

Yadav's declaration comes amidst his "Voter Adhikar Yatra". During a rally in Arrah, Yadav attacked Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, accusing him of merely copying his policies. "Do you want an original Chief Minister or a duplicate?" he asked the crowd, before proclaiming himself as the "original chief ministerial" candidate of the alliance.

While Yadav has publicly endorsed Rahul Gandhi as the Prime Ministerial face of the opposition INDIA bloc, Gandhi has not reciprocated by naming Yadav as the Grand Alliance's Chief Ministerial candidate for Bihar. When questioned, Gandhi stated that all INDIA bloc partners are working together with mutual respect and without tension and that they will contest the polls together.

Despite Gandhi's neutral stance, Tejashwi Yadav seems to have garnered support from within the INDIA bloc. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, who joined Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav for their "Voter Adhikar Yatra," has voiced his support for the RJD leader as the INDIA bloc's chief ministerial face for the upcoming Bihar assembly polls. Akhilesh Yadav praised Tejashwi's previous tenure as Bihar's deputy CM and highlighted his employment record.

Within the Congress party, some leaders have also begun to project Tejashwi Yadav as the CM face of the INDIA bloc in Bihar. While senior Congress leaders in Bihar have maintained that the Chief Ministerial face of the Opposition alliance will be decided only after the Assembly elections, some prominent voices have publicly endorsed Tejashwi Yadav for the post.

A recent survey conducted by Vote Vibe indicated that Tejashwi Yadav is the most popular choice for the chief ministerial face in Bihar, with 32.1% of people favoring him. Incumbent CM Nitish Kumar followed with 25%. The survey also highlighted Yadav's popularity among the youth, with 40% of people in the 25-34 age group favoring the RJD leader for the top post.

The Bihar elections are expected to be held in October or November. The Election Commission is yet to announce the dates.