As the Bihar polls come close, tensions and strategies in different political echelons are visible. The Congress, for instance, seems to endorse the candidature of RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav as the face of the Chief Minister. The Mahagathbandhan between RJD and Congress is in progress as the parties are trying to come back on track in the assembly-bound state.
The deadline for withdrawal of nominations is set on Thursday, and the two parties have yet to announce the seat-sharing scheme in the assembly. The parties have also announced no campaigns, while on the other hand, Prime Minister Modi will begin the party rally on Friday.
Ashok Gehlot, the senior Congress emissary, has held talks with Tejashwi Yadav and Lalu Prasad Yadav in their official residence in the presence of the Bihar in charge of Congress Krishna Allavaru, who has been blamed by many for causing problems between the two parties.
One of the major hurdles in cooperation was the endorsement of Tejashwi as the CM face. Though close sources reveal that this matter has now been resolved, as the Congress is ready to endorse Tejashwi’s candidature. The issue of equal seat sharing raised by the Congress also led to turmoil between the parties, leading both sides to nominate rival candidates from different constituencies.
Sources suggest that most of these candidatures will be withdrawn on Thursday as the parties favour a ‘friendly fight’. After the talks on Wednesday, Gehlot clarified that the talks have been fruitful as all confusion has been cleared, and the Mahagathbandhan will work together in the upcoming elections. Gehlot further described the talks as “very positive”, emphasising that the INDIA block was prepared to contest the elections in Bihar, highlighting that friendly fights on 5-10 seats might be seen in the elections.
He also blamed the BJP for running sponsored campaigns that created rifts between the RJD and Congress.
