Opposition INDIA Bloc Strategizes for Bihar Elections, Tejashwi Yadav to Lead Coordination Panel

The Opposition INDIA bloc held a crucial three-hour meeting in Patna on Thursday to discuss its strategy for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections. Leaders from the alliance’s key parties—Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Congress—described the outcome of the meeting as a “win-win situation.” The bloc, known in Bihar as the Mahagathbandhan (grand alliance), took its first significant steps toward preparing for the electoral battle.

The meeting included representatives from the RJD, Congress, Left parties, and Mukesh Sahani’s Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP). A major decision was the establishment of a coordination committee led by Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, Tejashwi Yadav, who will work on formulating a common minimum programme for the polls. However, there were no discussions on leadership or seat-sharing, sources confirmed.

RJD and Congress Leaders Weigh In
An RJD leader highlighted that while Congress managed to delay discussions on leadership and seat-sharing, the RJD succeeded in getting the coordination committee under Tejashwi Yadav’s leadership. A Congress leader, speaking anonymously, noted that a meeting between Yadav, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, and Lok Sabha Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi in Delhi earlier this week had set the agenda for the Patna meeting, particularly concerning the controversy surrounding Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar’s “Palayan Roko, Naukri Do” (stop migration, provide jobs) yatra.

Focus on Key Issues
The newly formed coordination committee will address critical issues leading up to the election, including seat-sharing, campaign strategies, and joint campaigns. The decision to appoint Tejashwi Yadav as the committee head is significant, with the RJD keen on positioning him as the Chief Ministerial candidate. Meanwhile, Congress leaders are cautious due to the BJP’s revival of the “Lalu-Rabri jungle raj” narrative.

The RJD has also signaled that it does not want a repeat of the 2020 elections, where the Congress contested 70 of the 243 seats but had a poor showing, winning just 19 constituencies.

Congress Eyes Leverage
For Congress, which has taken an aggressive stance recently, especially through Kanhaiya’s yatra, the delay in seat-sharing talks gives it time to build momentum and strengthen its negotiating position.

After the meeting, Tejashwi Yadav told reporters, “We discussed various issues and unanimously agreed to focus on migration and unemployment. We need to end this 20-year-old unstable government. Nitish Kumar’s flip-flops have prevented Bihar from having a stable government for the past 13 years.”

Confirming the formation of the coordination committee, Congress in-charge for Bihar, Krishna Allavaru, emphasized that the committee would meet regularly. “We will stick to our core issues—migration and unemployment,” he said.

VIP’s Support: A Positive Signal for the Alliance
A key development during the meeting was the attendance of VIP chief Mukesh Sahani, who had previously been part of the NDA and won four of the 11 seats he contested in 2020. Despite speculation that Sahani might return to the NDA, his presence at the meeting was a positive sign for the INDIA bloc.

Sahani, who hails from the Mallah community (an Extremely Backward Class), had left the Mahagathbandhan before the 2020 elections. He reiterated the importance of advocating for a dedicated quota for his community and allied castes. “We raised this issue even when we were part of the NDA, though it was against their wishes,” he said.