As the Mahagathbandhan gears up for a crucial press conference in Patna on Thursday, October 23, speculation is mounting that Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav may finally be announced as the alliance’s Chief Ministerial face. The anticipation follows a key meeting on Wednesday between Tejashwi, RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot, and the party’s Bihar in-charge Krishna Allavaru, signaling possible consensus within the bloc.
Adding to the buzz, the backdrop for the upcoming press conference at Patna’s Maurya Hotel features the election symbols of all alliance partners but prominently displays only Tejashwi Yadav’s image, alongside the slogan “Bihar maange Tejashwi sarkar” (Bihar demands Tejashwi government). This will be the first joint press event by Mahagathbandhan leaders since the election dates were announced, marking a key moment in the alliance’s campaign strategy.
The Mahagathbandhan leaders were last seen together on September 24 during the launch of the ‘Ati Pichhda EBC Sankalp Patra’, which featured Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Tejashwi Yadav, and Vikassheel Insaan Party chief Mukesh Sahani. They had also joined Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’, which covered over 25 districts across Bihar. While the Congress has maintained silence on Wednesday’s meeting, CPI(ML) General Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya has voiced growing impatience within the alliance over the delay in officially declaring Tejashwi as the CM candidate.
