Patna, October 23 (NationPress) After a lengthy period of internal strife and ambiguity, the Grand Alliance (Mahagathbandhan) in Bihar has officially named Tejashwi Yadav, a leader of the RJD, as its Chief Ministerial candidate for the forthcoming Bihar Assembly elections.

This announcement was made at a joint press briefing held at Hotel Maurya, Patna.

Former Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Ashok Gehlot, made the declaration in front of other alliance leaders.

“Tejashwi Yadav is not only young but also deeply committed. He has honored all his commitments and has a promising future ahead. Therefore, we have resolved to contest this election with Tejashwi Yadav at the helm. He will represent us as the Chief Ministerial face,” Gehlot remarked.

Furthermore, Gehlot introduced Mukesh Sahani as the candidate for the Deputy Chief Minister's role.

This decision comes after a protracted dispute among alliance partners, particularly concerning seat-sharing and the Chief Ministerial nominee.

Under the final agreement, the RJD will contest 143 seats, ensuring its strong foothold, particularly among the Muslim-Yadav (MY) voter demographic.

The Grand Alliance has faced substantial criticism for its inability to settle internal disagreements, especially as the nomination deadlines for the second phase of elections approach.

The primary contention arose from the Congress party's insistence on contesting 70 seats, the same number it claimed in the 2020 Assembly elections, a year when it secured only 19 seats, with a mere 27 percent strike rate.

According to sources, RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav was reluctant to yield that many seats, given the Congress’s previous lackluster performance.

This standoff reached a critical point earlier this week, leading the Congress high command to step in.

Ashok Gehlot was sent to Patna to mediate discussions between the top leaders of both parties.

Gehlot met with Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rabri Devi, and Tejashwi Yadav at the residence of the RJD chief on Wednesday.

After the discussions, Gehlot confirmed that all disputes had been settled and that the alliance would jointly participate in the Bihar elections.

“Everything is in order within the Grand Alliance. We will approach this election with complete unity and strength. We have addressed the issues of minor conflicts over specific seats,” Gehlot stated to reporters post-meeting.

The other significant point of contention was the selection of the Chief Ministerial candidate.

While the RJD and its allies, including CPI-ML, CPI, CPI(M), and VIP, had already backed Tejashwi Yadav as the alliance’s CM candidate, the Congress insisted that the leadership question should be settled post-elections.

However, following extensive consultations, the Grand Alliance partners have now formally endorsed Tejashwi Yadav as their Chief Ministerial candidate.

Political analysts perceive this decision as a major advantage for the Grand Alliance’s campaign, particularly among young voters and those from backward castes.

This announcement is also interpreted as a strategic move to counter the NDA’s consolidated front led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

With internal conflicts now resolved, all attention shifts to how effectively the Grand Alliance can convey its unified message to the electorate in Bihar in the weeks ahead.