Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav (third from left) and Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) chief Mukesh Sahani (fourth from left) with Congress Bihar in-charge Krisna Allawaru, Bihar Congress Chief Rajesh Kumar, and others. File. | Photo Credit: ANI
“One more Deputy CM faced would be announced later,” says Congress leader Ashok Gehlot
The INDIA bloc coordination committee chairman and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav was declared as the Chief Ministerial face of the Mahagathbandhan alliance in Bihar on Thursday (October 23, 2025). Along with him, the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) chief Mukesh Sahani was declared as the Deputy Chief Ministerial face of the alliance.
The announcement was made in Patna by Ashok Gehlot, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) senior observer for the Bihar Assembly polls, in the presence of Mr. Yadav, Mr. Sahani and other leaders of the alliance. Bihar Congress-in-charge Krishna Allavaru, Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee (BPCC) president Rajesh Ram and leaders from Left parties were also present.
“One more Deputy CM faced would be announced later,” said Mr. Gehlot.
After being declared as the Chief Ministerial candidate for the upcoming Assembly elections, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav said that the alliance partners have come together for the advancement of Bihar. “We, the people of Mahagathbandhan, do not just want to form the government or become the CM, but we want to make Bihar, which is why we are together,” he said. He asserted that the opposition Mahagathbandhan together will “throw out the ‘useless’ 20-year-old double-engine government” in the State.
Taking a jab at the NDA, Mr. Gehlot said, “Now we have our CM face, the NDA should tell who is their CM face. It is not like [they are] contesting the election under the leadership of Nitish Kumar. They should declare their CM face.”
Mr. Yadav criticised the NDA for not holding any joint press conference to announce their CM face. “Gehlot rightly said that not even a single joint press conference has been held by the NDA. At least we did that apart from holding many meetings together. Injustice is being done to Nitish Kumar in the NDA. No official announcement has been made for their CM face,” Mr. Yadav said.
Tejashwi, Tej Pratap are poles apart in tough battle for neighbouring seats
The announcement came after Mr. Gehlot was rushed to Bihar to solve seat-sharing issues in Mahagathbandhan. He met RJD president Lalu Prasad in Patna on Wednesday (October 22, 2025).
Due to the delay in finalising seat-sharing arrangements, the RJD, the Congress, and the VIP continued to unilaterally file for nominations in the first phase of the election. This has led to the Mahagathbandhan alliance partners facing each other in contest in at least seven seats.
Speaking on the infighting issue, Mr. Gehlot had said, “Bihar has 243 seats; there could be friendly fights on 5–10 seats, but there is no issue.”
The Bihar Assembly elections are set to happen in two phases, covering all 243 constituencies in the State. The first phase of polling will take place on November 6 for 121 constituencies, and the second phase on November 11, covering the remaining 122 constituencies.
