Bihar’s opposition alliance party India Alliance has announced its chief ministerial candidate. Senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot has projected Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and former Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar Tejashwi Yadav as the CM face. He has said that the Grand Alliance is contesting the elections under the leadership of Tejashwi and if the government of India is formed, Tejashwi will be the Chief Minister.

Along with this, Ashok Gehlot also told the reasons for electing Tejashwi Yadav as the CM face. In the joint press conference of the Grand Alliance held on Thursday, October 23, Ashok Gehlot said that Tejashwi Yadav is a youth leader and connects with the youth of Bihar. He knows the problems of the youth and always works forward to find their solutions. Ashok Gehlot also said that Tejashwi Yadav is the future of Bihar.

‘Tejashwi did wonders in Bihar elections 2020’- Ashok Gehlot

Apart from this, Congress’ Bihar election in-charge Ashok Gehlot praised Tejashwi Yadav and said that Tejashwi had done wonders in the year 2020. He was very close to victory. NDA government came to power only due to minor vote difference and money power, otherwise Tejashwi Yadav would have won. Therefore, India Alliance unanimously projects Tejashwi Yadav as the Chief Minister face of the Grand Alliance.

‘We have chosen, who is the CM face of NDA?’- Ashok Gehlot

Along with the announcement of his CM face, Ashok Gehlot also asked the ruling coalition party NDA as to who is their CM candidate? In fact, despite repeated demands from current Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, BJP has not yet declared him as the CM face. It has only been said that NDA will contest Bihar elections under the leadership of Nitish Kumar. In such a situation, it is not yet confirmed whether Nitish Kumar will become the CM of Bihar again if the NDA government is repeated.

‘Nitish Kumar will not be the CM face of NDA’- Tejashwi Yadav

In the same press conference, Grand Alliance’s CM candidate Tejashwi Yadav even claimed that BJP will not allow Nitish Kumar to become the Chief Minister this time. Tejashwi Yadav said that injustice is being done to Nitish Kumar in NDA. There was neither any joint PC nor was Nitish formally declared the chief ministerial face.

In such a situation, Tejashwi Yadav also claimed that due to Nitish Kumar being unwell, he will not be able to become CM next time. Neither NDA government will come nor BJP will make him the CM.

The tussle continues between the allies in the opposition India Alliance over seat sharing for the Bihar Assembly elections. The last date for filing nomination papers for the first phase of voting to be held on November 6, 2025 ended on Friday (October 17, 2025). An Election Commission official said that a total of 1,698 candidates have filed nominations for the first phase of elections.

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) spokesperson Chittaranjan Gagan said that a total of 71 candidates of the party have filed nominations for the first phase of elections. In this, the party’s CM candidate Tejashwi Yadav, National General Secretary Bhola Yadav, Mohammad Shahabuddin’s son Osama, former Bihar Assembly Speaker Awadh Bihari Chaudhary, Alok Mehta, Lalit Yadav, Israel Mansoori along with all the former ministers and senior leader of the party Bhai Virendra have also filed their nominations.

Congress, VIP and CPI also fielded their candidates.

On the other hand, a total of 25 candidates from Rahul Gandhi’s party Congress including Braj Kishore Ravi, former Tamil Nadu DGP Amita Bhushan and Pratima Kumari have also filed their nominations. With this, a total of 14 candidates of Communist Party of India (ML), six candidates including Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) National President Santosh Sahni and Vice President Umesh Sahni have filed their nominations with the Election Commission. However, VIP founder Mukesh Sahni has decided not to contest Bihar assembly elections. He said, ‘I have to ensure the victory of India Alliance in the elections. If I also contest elections, it will affect our election campaign.

There may also be a contest between the candidates of the Grand Alliance’s allies.

No consensus could be reached between all the allies in the India alliance by Friday (October 17, 2025). In such a situation, many party candidates filed their nominations with caution. The last date for withdrawal of nominations for the first phase of elections is till Monday (October 20, 2025). In such a situation, if the candidates of alliance parties have filed their nominations on the seats where they do not withdraw their nominations on Monday, then there can be a contest between the candidates of the alliance parties of the Grand Alliance.

The eight assembly seats where there could be a fight between the candidates of the Grand Alliance’s allies include Bachhwara, Kahalgaon, Lalganj, Gaura Bauram, Tarapur, Vaishali, Rajapakar and Rosra.

Voter Adhikar Yatra supported by all parties, dispute over seat

Leaders of other alliance parties demonstrated solidarity by participating in Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s Voter Adhikar Yatra in Bihar. But soon after that, differences started emerging between them on many issues and they could not reach a consensus on seat sharing in the Grand Alliance.

Also read: Amit Shah’s political target on Bengal from the constituency of Bihar, said – The pain from SIR is by nurturing infiltrators…

Neither the ruling nor the opposition alliance party is able to finalize seat sharing in the Bihar Assembly elections. Talking about the opposition grand alliance, political differences are still going on between the allies Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Congress. If sources are to be believed, there is a huge conflict between Congress and RJD. Congress is adamant on the demand of more than 60 seats and RJD has set a limit of 58 seats for it.

Sources are also saying that Congress is preparing to field candidates on about 65 seats. Congress has kept a formula to give 138 seats to RJD. In the remaining 40 seats, VIPs of Left parties and Mukesh Sahni have been asked to adjust.

Not only this, the situation on the political ground is such that even before the picture on seat distribution is clear, the allies have issued symbols to the candidates. RJD has so far given symbols to a total of 71 candidates. At the same time, BHPKA (ML) has given symbols to candidates on 18 seats. Apart from this, CPI released the list of 6 candidates, it has claimed to field candidates on 4 other seats after consent.

VIP Chief Mukesh Sahani in restlessness

One candidate also filed nomination in CPM and on Thursday, October 16, other candidates will also file nomination. Mukesh Sahni is uneasy seeing the number of his VIP seats continuously decreasing. RJD has so far given consent to VIP on 12 seats.

There may be a friendly fight in the Grand Alliance

The situation so far in the Grand Alliance shows that if the issue of seat sharing is not resolved soon, then there will be a situation of friendly fight between the constituent parties on some seats.

The opposition party is opposing the special intensive revision campaign of the voter list in Bihar. RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav is raising its voice in the monsoon session continuously. They are demanding discussion on this. Meanwhile, he has said that the option of boycott of Bihar assembly elections is open with him. In such a situation, the question arises whether the allies of the Grand Alliance will be with Tejashwi Yadav? What will be their stand?

‘How can we say now…’

On Tejashwi Yadav’s election boycott statement, CPI (Male) MLA Ajit Kushwaha said, “… There is no decision on boycott yet. There will be discussion. How can we say that now we can say that we Will you boycott? But yes, it is definitely a threat to our voters and their names. If this continues, then we will definitely consider in this direction. “

Anything can be decided: Congress

On the election boycott statement, CPI (M) MLA Ajay Kumar said, “… if a decision has to be taken, we (Grand Alliance) will tell this time.” Congress leader Tariq Anwar said that the Congress has not yet decided. Tejashwi Yadav is the leader of the RJD, the leader of the grand alliance, the leader of the opposition, he will have to pay attention to his point because the matter is serious. The way the Election Commission is rigging, anything can be decided.

What did Akhilesh Prasad Singh say?

On the other hand, Congress Rajya Sabha MP Akhilesh Prasad Singh said that we want to improve the voter list. We want elections on the voter list that is already there. Because what does such an election mean? On Tejashwi’s statement, he said that he gave a statement in anger and outrage. The way the people of Bihar are being denied voting rights, then anger on it is natural. Except BJP, everyone else wants SIR to be discussed immediately.

The Marxist Communist Party ‘strongly condemned’ the encounter of 27 Maoists including Nambala Keshavrao in Chhattisgarh. The party alleged that the Central and State Governments ignored the appeal of the Maoists.

The CPAEM said in a statement that the statements made by Home Minister Amit Shah and Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnudev Sai reflect the fascist mentality for not interacting with the Maoists. The Left party says that many political parties and social organizations have appealed to the government to consider the request of the Maoists of talks.

Marxist Communist Party gave this statement?

The statement said, “Despite our opposition to Maoist politics, we urge the government to immediately accept their (Maoists’ request for talks and stop all paramilitary campaigns till then.” The top leader of the Naxalite movement and the spinal leader Nambala Keshav Rao Urd Basavaraju was killed by Naxalites Naxalites on Wednesday.

CPIM Polit Bureau Statement on the encounter of 27 #Maoists in Chhattisgarh.
Read the statement at: https://t.co/oqsbjflxjo pic.twitter.com/z5sxxadqqa

– CPI (m) (@cpimspeak) May 22, 2025

27 Naxalites had a reward of Rs 3.33 crore