As a last-ditch effort to get the Opposition alliance back on track, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) on Thursday made peace with its ally RJD by endorsing Tejashwi Yadav as the grand alliance's chief ministerial candidate - a demand other partners had long been pressing for.
Amid internal power tussles, the Congress leadership also backed Mukesh Sahani of the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) - which is contesting just 15 seats and is seen in a tactical understanding with the RJD - as the alliance's deputy chief ministerial candidate, even though the Bihar Congress unit had been pushing for two CM posts, one each for a Dalit and a Muslim nominee from the party.
After the alliance resolved its internal tussle - triggered by Rahul Gandhi's refusal to name Yadav as the Opposition's CM face during the recent Voter Adhikar Yatra - leaders challenged the BJP to declare the NDA's candidate, claiming Nitish Kumar had been reduced to a pre-poll mascot. By evening, a few 'parallel' nominees withdrew, easing friendly contests among allies.
At a joint press conference of Opposition leaders in a Patna hotel - with a lone poster of Yadav dominating the backdrop - veteran Congress leader Ashok Gehlot, rushed in after AICC in-charge Krishna Allavaru and PCC negotiators mishandled the talks, announced the CM face. "After consultations with Khargeji, Rahulji and our coalition partners, we have decided to name Tejashwi Yadavji as our chief ministerial candidate. He is young and has a long future ahead, and from my experience, those with a long future earn the people's support," Gehlot said.
Yadav, seated beside Gehlot, appeared content as the Congress veteran said the alliance leaders - including Yadav, Rahul Gandhi, and others - would soon hit the campaign trail. Announcing Sahani as the deputy CM nominee, Gehlot hinted that another deputy CM from a backward community could be considered if the Opposition formed the government. AICC in-charge Krishna Allavaru, seated quietly in a corner, was not invited to speak. Later that evening, the AICC relieved him of his Youth Congress charge, assigning it to Manish Sharma.
It is learnt that Sahani, who projects himself as a leader of the influential boatmen community, was declared deputy CM nominee after he reportedly threw tantrums behind the scenes ahead of the joint press conference, prompting hurried consultations among allies and the Congress high command in Delhi. However, some within the alliance believe Sahani's rise was orchestrated by the RJD - which had brought him in with a deputy CM promise - as the move helps the party keep the Congress in check internally.
Thanking allies for endorsing him as the CM nominee, Yadav said, "We were never confused about this. We were clear from the beginning. The real question is, who will be the NDA's face? There's been no joint press conference, no vision, no agenda, and no CM announced. Shah's statement makes it clear that Nitish Kumar won't be made chief minister." Gehlot added, "You've seen what happened in Maharashtra - the BJP projected (Eknath) Shinde during the campaign and later sidelined him. The same script is being written for Nitishji."
The absence of Rahul Gandhi's poster at the conference left some Congress supporters disappointed. Independent MP Pappu Yadav, who backs the party, told reporters, "Dalits and the extremely backward classes will vote for the INDIA bloc only because of Gandhi. His image should have been on the stage."
Amid internal power tussles, the Congress leadership also backed Mukesh Sahani of the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) - which is contesting just 15 seats and is seen in a tactical understanding with the RJD - as the alliance's deputy chief ministerial candidate, even though the Bihar Congress unit had been pushing for two CM posts, one each for a Dalit and a Muslim nominee from the party.
After the alliance resolved its internal tussle - triggered by Rahul Gandhi's refusal to name Yadav as the Opposition's CM face during the recent Voter Adhikar Yatra - leaders challenged the BJP to declare the NDA's candidate, claiming Nitish Kumar had been reduced to a pre-poll mascot. By evening, a few 'parallel' nominees withdrew, easing friendly contests among allies.
At a joint press conference of Opposition leaders in a Patna hotel - with a lone poster of Yadav dominating the backdrop - veteran Congress leader Ashok Gehlot, rushed in after AICC in-charge Krishna Allavaru and PCC negotiators mishandled the talks, announced the CM face. "After consultations with Khargeji, Rahulji and our coalition partners, we have decided to name Tejashwi Yadavji as our chief ministerial candidate. He is young and has a long future ahead, and from my experience, those with a long future earn the people's support," Gehlot said.
Yadav, seated beside Gehlot, appeared content as the Congress veteran said the alliance leaders - including Yadav, Rahul Gandhi, and others - would soon hit the campaign trail. Announcing Sahani as the deputy CM nominee, Gehlot hinted that another deputy CM from a backward community could be considered if the Opposition formed the government. AICC in-charge Krishna Allavaru, seated quietly in a corner, was not invited to speak. Later that evening, the AICC relieved him of his Youth Congress charge, assigning it to Manish Sharma.
It is learnt that Sahani, who projects himself as a leader of the influential boatmen community, was declared deputy CM nominee after he reportedly threw tantrums behind the scenes ahead of the joint press conference, prompting hurried consultations among allies and the Congress high command in Delhi. However, some within the alliance believe Sahani's rise was orchestrated by the RJD - which had brought him in with a deputy CM promise - as the move helps the party keep the Congress in check internally.
Thanking allies for endorsing him as the CM nominee, Yadav said, "We were never confused about this. We were clear from the beginning. The real question is, who will be the NDA's face? There's been no joint press conference, no vision, no agenda, and no CM announced. Shah's statement makes it clear that Nitish Kumar won't be made chief minister." Gehlot added, "You've seen what happened in Maharashtra - the BJP projected (Eknath) Shinde during the campaign and later sidelined him. The same script is being written for Nitishji."
The absence of Rahul Gandhi's poster at the conference left some Congress supporters disappointed. Independent MP Pappu Yadav, who backs the party, told reporters, "Dalits and the extremely backward classes will vote for the INDIA bloc only because of Gandhi. His image should have been on the stage."
