On 23 October, the INDIA bloc officially announced former Bihar deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav as its chief ministerial candidate for the upcoming Bihar assembly elections in November, putting to rest weeks of speculation about internal rifts within the alliance.
Senior Congress leader and former Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot made the announcement, noting that it was reached with the consensus of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, and all alliance partners. Gehlot also declared Vikassheel Insaan Party leader Mukesh Sahani as one of the deputy chief ministerial faces, with another deputy CM candidate to be announced later.
Gehlot took a dig at the BJP, stating, “We have declared our chief ministerial face — now Amit Shah-ji should tell the people who will be NDA’s CM candidate.”
Tejashwi Yadav, visibly emotional, thanked the alliance partners, saying, “We, the people of the Mahagathbandhan, do not just want to form a government or become chief minister — we want to build a better Bihar. I thank all the members of the alliance for showing trust in me. I will do everything possible to live up to your expectations, and together we will end this 20-year-old government.” He also acknowledged the support of his parents and former Bihar CMs Lalu Prasad Yadav and Rabri Devi, along with Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Mallikarjun Kharge.
The announcement marks a strategic shift for Congress, which had previously refrained from openly endorsing Tejashwi as the chief ministerial face. Political analysts say the move reflects recognition of his local appeal, especially among youth and backward communities, and the party’s desire to avoid leadership vacuums that have weakened opposition coalitions in the past.
At 35, Tejashwi, heir to Lalu Yadav’s Mandal-era legacy, had steered the RJD to become the single largest party in the 2020 assembly elections. His brief stint as deputy CM under Nitish Kumar helped him cultivate a pro-development, youth-focused image, contrasting with the older style of politics.
The 2025 Bihar elections are shaping up as a contest between Nitish Kumar’s continuity under the NDA and Tejashwi Yadav’s promise of generational and ideological change. If successful, this could be the first opposition victory in a decade with a clear and united leadership, as well as credible social and electoral arithmetic on its side.
