In Bihar's political landscape, the Mahagathbandhan, or grand alliance, is gearing up for the upcoming assembly elections, but not without visible tensions and strategic maneuvering. The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) appears to be taking the lead, while the Congress party seems to be conceding ground, and Rahul Gandhi's absence from key promotional material has raised eyebrows.
The RJD, under the leadership of Tejashwi Yadav, is widely expected to be named as the chief ministerial candidate of the Mahagathbandhan. This expectation has been reinforced by the fact that the RJD has released its official list of 143 candidates, a significant portion of the 243 total seats in the Bihar Assembly. In contrast, the Congress has announced 61 candidates. This disparity in the number of candidates underscores the RJD's dominant position within the alliance.
Adding fuel to the fire, a poster for a joint press conference of the Mahagathbandhan in Patna featured only Tejashwi Yadav, conspicuously omitting Rahul Gandhi. This visual statement has been interpreted by some, particularly the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), as a deliberate snub and a sign of internal discord within the alliance. The BJP has seized upon this perceived slight, suggesting that the Congress and Rahul Gandhi are being sidelined by the RJD.
Congress leaders have attempted to downplay the significance of Rahul Gandhi's absence from the poster, with some dismissing it as an "irrelevant issue". Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera stated there was never a clash between the members of Mahagathbandhan. Udit Raj, another Congress leader, has said that Rahul Gandhi is going to be the main person to hold election campaigns in Bihar for RJD and others. However, the visual symbolism has already made its mark, prompting questions about the power dynamics within the alliance.
One of the reasons cited for Rahul Gandhi's distance from the forefront of the Mahagathbandhan's campaign is a strategic calculation to avoid consolidating non-Yadav votes in Bihar. Given that the RJD primarily represents the Yadav community, some Congress leaders believe that projecting a different face might broaden the alliance's appeal. However, this strategy has been criticized by some within the Congress party as illogical, considering the RJD's significant presence in the Mahagathbandhan.
Adding to the complexity, the Mahagathbandhan is facing the prospect of "friendly fights" in several constituencies, where both RJD and Congress candidates are contesting against each other. While efforts are underway to encourage candidates to withdraw to avoid splitting votes, these instances of internal competition highlight the challenges in coordinating the alliance's efforts.
Despite these visible tensions, leaders from both the RJD and Congress have expressed confidence in the strength and unity of the Mahagathbandhan. Senior Congress leaders, including Ashok Gehlot and Bihar in-charge Krishna Allavaru, have been dispatched to Patna to address the situation and ensure that the alliance remains on track. Gehlot described a meeting as highly positive, adding that the bloc was united and contesting the elections as a strong force and that all confusion would be cleared at the press conference.
The Bihar elections, scheduled for November 6 and 11, with results expected on November 14, will be a closely watched contest between the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Mahagathbandhan. Whether the Mahagathbandhan can overcome its internal challenges and present a united front remains to be seen.
