Bihar polls: RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav declared as CM candidate of Grand Alliance
Congress leader Ashok Gehlot makes announcement at a joint press conference in Patna
The opposition INDIA bloc on Thursday declared RJD leader and former deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav as its chief ministerial candidate for the Bihar Assembly elections.
Announcing the decusion at a press conference, which was attended by all coalition partners, senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot asserted that the decision was backed by Rahul Gandhi and national president Mallikarjun Kharge.
Gehlot also said Vikassheel Insan Party (VIP) chief Mukesh Sahni would be one of the deputy chief ministers if the INDIA bloc forms the government, along with "another leader from the backward classes" who would occupy the same post.
‘No rift in alliance,’ asserts Cong
Earlier, amid rumours of a rift in the alliance, senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot on Wednesday (October 22) asserted that there are “friendly fights”, as it happens in all states, and that the “Mahagathbandhan remains firm against the BJP and the JD(U).”
Gehlot was sent to Patna on Wednesday to meet RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and Tejashwi in an apparent attempt by the Congress to cajole its alliance partner.
Missing photos
Interestingly, despite the Congress's assertion of unity in the alliance, the photographs of top INDIA Bloc leaders were missing from a banner at the venue of the press conference in Patna. The banner, the image of which has gone viral on social media, carried only a large photograph of RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav.
Read The Federal’s election stories from Bihar
Bihar polls: Simmering discontent within NDA as leaders hit campaign trail
How Nitish Kumar and past regimes let Bihar down economically Is the Grand Alliance losing momentum ahead of Bihar election?
Why NDA fielded only 5 Muslim faces in Bihar elections
Ground report: Prashant Kishor, a 'stranger' in his ancestral village
Grand Alliance battles chaos and crumbling unity ahead of Bihar polls
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Live Updates
- 23 Oct 2025 5:05 PM IST
‘People of Bihar won’t allow looters to rule again:’ BJP's Tarun Chugh
On Bihar Assembly elections, BJP National General Secretary Tarun Chugh says, "Inside Bihar, the gang of corrupt young princes and princesses wants to bring back jungle raj again in their lust for power... The people of Bihar will not let these black deeds and intentions succeed. The INDI alliance will lose badly... In no way will the people of Bihar allow the rule to come into the hands of looters... Those who cannot work together, how will they contest the elections and how will they be able to form a government?..."
- 23 Oct 2025 5:03 PM IST
People voted for BJP out of fear of Lalu, but now have a Jan Suraaj alternative: Prashant Kishor
On the announcement of RJD candidate Tejashwi Yadav from the Raghopur assembly seat as the chief ministerial face of the Mahagathbandhan, Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor says, "When power starts slipping away, a person is ready to say anything. Appoint not one but five deputy chief ministers, but how will that help? This is hardly a new announcement; it’s already known that if Lalu Yadav’s jungle raj returns, his son Tejashwi Yadav will become the chief minister..."
He further says, "... In a few days, Tejashwi Yadav will announce that he will transform Bihar into golden Lanka... Out of fear of Lalu Yadav, people vote for BJP, and not the other way around, but this time the public has a strong alternative in Jan Suraaj, and the public will not make a mistake this time..."
- 23 Oct 2025 5:00 PM IST
‘Will they provide 2 crore jobs? They should speak sensibly’: Chhattisgarh Deputy CM Vijay Sharma
Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma says, "...Tejashwi Yadav, who has now become a claimant for the Chief Minister's post, should tell me how he will provide a government job to every household?... Will they provide nearly 2 crore jobs? They should speak sensibly, and if they are going to win elections by making such statements, then undoubtedly their intention is to reach the chair by doing anything..."
- 23 Oct 2025 4:59 PM IST
‘There was fear and terror before 2005, now there is peace and progress’: Nitish Kumar
Addressing a rally in Saran, CM Nitish Kumar says, "Before 2005, there was an atmosphere of fear and terror throughout the state. There was conflict in society. There was no proper education, no medical care, no electricity, no roads. The previous government did nothing. So remember, never vote for them. Ever since our government came to power, the rule of law prevails. There are no disputes. We worked for everyone, whether Hindu, Muslim, upper caste, backward, extremely backward, Dalit, or Mahadalit..."
- 23 Oct 2025 4:55 PM IST
'Nitish is a social reformer, Tejashwi is known for court cases': JDU’s Neeraj Yadav
JDU leader Neeraj Yadav says, "... As the election campaign is underway, Mahagathbandhan has declared Tejashwi Yadav as their CM candidate. Lalu Prasad Yadav, despite his health issues, is meeting Ashok Gehlot because he wants his son to be CM... Nitish Kumar is a social reformer, global thinker, and climate leader, whereas Tejashwi Yadav is known for his legal cases and court hearings. Bihar’s public wants development and peace over dynastic politics. Prime Minister and Home Minister have voiced their support for Nitish Kumar’s leadership in Bihar."
- 23 Oct 2025 4:53 PM IST
BJP’s CR Kesavan calls Mahagathbandhan ‘maha-corrupt-bandhan’, says Rahul and Tejashwi bond over corruption
BJP leader CR Kesavan says, "The people of Bihar know very well that the Mahagatbandhan is a maha-corrupt-bandhan... This press conference was a dismal failure, similar to trying to hide an elephant under a bed sheet... When the people of Bihar look at both Rahul Gandhi and Lalu Prasad Yadav, they see two entitled Nepo kids, both of them out on bail, and the only common bond between them is corruption..."
- 23 Oct 2025 4:49 PM IST
'Amit Shah must clarify if Nitish Kumar will become CM after polls': Ashok Gehlot
Ashok Gehlot says, "Now Amit Shah must answer whether Nitish Kumar will become Chief Minister after the elections... The elections in Maharashtra were fought on the face of Eknath Shinde, but Devendra Fadnavis was made the Chief Minister. So, will he betray Nitish too, or not?... Make it clear. Otherwise, you are deceiving the public."
- 23 Oct 2025 4:47 PM IST
Giriraj Singh hits out at Mahagathbandhan, calls it ‘thugbandhan’; says Nitish Kumar is NDA's CM face
On RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav being announced as Mahagathbandhan's CM face, Union Minister Giriraj Singh says, "This is not astonishing anymore. Lalu Yadav has very adamantly announced his son as the CM candidate. This is not a 'gathbandhan' but a 'thugbandhan'... Nitish Kumar is the NDA's CM face..."
- 23 Oct 2025 4:45 PM IST
Ashok Gehlot hits back at Ravi Shankar Prasad, says BJP wins by telling lies
On BJP's Ravi Shankar Prasad's statement, senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot says, "Being accused is one thing. Being convicted is another... When no one has been convicted, how can you predict the consequences in advance? No one accepts themselves as accused... They just boast during elections. They try to win by telling lies. Rajasthan is a prime example of this..."
