Kumar Bahukhandi
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav
The announcement of Tejashwi Yadav’s name as the CM face in the Mahagathbandhan’s Patna meeting for the Bihar elections was considered a formality but it did not happen. Smaller allies agree on Tejashwi’s name but why is Congress having a problem with it?
Before the meeting of the constituents of the Mahagathbandhan in Bihar’s capital Patna on Thursday, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) had categorically said that Tejashwi Yadav is the CM face. Vikasheel Insaan Party (VIP) founder Mukesh Sahni had already called Tejashwi his younger brother and talked about making him the CM. Tejashwi had also met Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi in Delhi. Smaller parties were also with him. In such a situation, it was believed that Tejashwi’s CM candidature would be announced after the Patna meeting. But this did not happen.
After the meeting of the leaders of the constituent parties of the Mahagathbandhan, it was announced in a joint press conference that the coalition’s coordination committee for the elections will be formed. It will have two members from each party. It was also said that this 13-member committee will take all the decisions regarding the Bihar elections. It was also announced that the command of this new ‘power center’ of the Mahagathbandhan will be handed over to Tejashwi, but the question of the CM face remained unanswered here too. On being asked about this, Tejashwi Yadav said – enjoy the wait a little.
He claimed that there is no difference of opinion on any subject in the Mahagathbandhan. It is also being said that Tejashwi wants the Congress leadership to declare him the CM face from a big platform. Whatever the reality may be, questions are being raised that when Tejashwi Yadav has no hesitation in handing over the leadership of the committee that takes all the decisions related to the elections, then what is the problem in declaring him the CM face? Tejashwi’s leadership is acceptable to VIP and other small allies, then why does the Congress have a problem?
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Congress also understands that RJD has to play the role of the elder brother in the Mahagathbandhan of Bihar. Pan Bihar influence, strong organization. And on the scale of voter base, no constituent party of the Mahagathbandhan is close to RJD. And then there is also the matter of numbers – the bigger the number, the bigger the share. Obviously, the bigger party will lead in case of government formation. RJD emerged as the largest party in the 2020 Bihar elections.
Congress MP from Sasaram reserved seat Manoj Kumar has also said, “There is no confusion about the face of the Chief Minister in the Mahagathbandhan. Deciding the CM face is a matter of one hour for us.” On the question about Tejashwi Yadav, he said that he (Tejashwi) has the ability to become the Chief Minister and we support him. Congress MPs are also calling Tejashwi eligible for CM. Then what is the problem? This can be understood in four points.
1- Attempt to counter RJD’s shadow narrative
Congress has been walking in Bihar holding a lantern since 1999. A narrative has been created in the state about the country’s oldest party that it is a party walking in the shadow of RJD. Congress is now trying to counter this narrative. Congress’ strategy in Bihar is to strengthen the organization so that the party is in a position to bargain on its terms even in the event of an alliance.
2- The party will not be in surrender mode
At the time of the Lok Sabha elections, Lalu Yadav had made Congress give up every seat on the seat sharing table. Despite all the efforts of Congress, Bima Bharti was declared the candidate by bringing her from JDU without leaving a seat like Purnea. Congress wanted Begusarai seat for Kanhaiya Kumar but that seat was also not given and the party was forced to field him from Delhi. Before the assembly elections, Congress wants to change the image of the party which was in surrender mode during the Lok Sabha elections. Despite repeated claims by Lalu Yadav himself to form Tejaswi’s government, Congress has created a problem in his CM candidature, so behind this there is also an attempt to give the message that we are not in surrender mode.
3- Focus on the emergence of new leadership
Congress is now trying to come out of Lalu Yadav’s shadow in Bihar politics. The party wants to send the message that it has an alliance with RJD but this does not mean that its decisions will be taken by Lalu Yadav. Whether it is Rahul Gandhi himself joining Kanhaiya Kumar’s padyatra, which is disliked by Lalu family, or Pappu Yadav being invited to the Congress convention and Akhilesh Pratap Singh being removed from the post of state president, all these are also being linked to this strategy. Congress is now focusing on preparing new leadership in the state.
4- Strategy to increase vote base
Avoiding declaring Tejashwi Yadav as CM candidate is also being linked to the strategy to increase vote base in the elections. Congress feels that RJD voters know that Tejashwi Yadav will become CM. If the elections are fought on the formula of collective leadership without declaring a CM face, then it is possible that the support of non-Yadav OBC castes, who may avoid voting in Tejashwi’s name, can also be obtained.
