Bihar – After weeks of suspense and internal discord over seat-sharing arrangements, the Opposition’s INDIA bloc in Bihar finally rallied around Rashtriya Janata Dal leader, Tejashwi Yadav with his CM candidate announcement on Thursday. The formal declaration of the Tejashwi Yadav CM candidate status came during a joint press conference in Patna, ending months of speculation and behind-the-scenes negotiations. Political analysts had long considered the Tejashwi Yadav CM candidate designation inevitable, given his political stature and electoral track record.
In a symbolic gesture promoting alliance unity, Vikassheel Insaan Party chief Mukesh Sahani was named the deputy chief ministerial face, signaling the INDIA bloc’s attempt to move beyond weeks of public squabbling and present a united front against the ruling National Democratic Alliance.
Congress Leadership Endorses Decision
The Tejashwi Yadav CM candidate announcement received full backing from Congress leadership, with former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot serving as the party’s troubleshooter. Gehlot shared the dais with Lalu Prasad, Rabri Devi, and Tejashwi Yadav during the historic press conference that finalized the opposition’s leadership structure.
“All allies in the INDIA bloc, including our leader Rahul Gandhi, have decided that Tejashwi will be our CM face and we will fight the election unitedly. The decision has been taken after consultation with all allies and our president Mallikarjun Kharge,” Ashok Gehlot stated, bringing clarity to the prolonged leadership question surrounding the Tejashwi Yadav CM candidate matter.
An Inevitable Political Choice
The Tejashwi Yadav CM candidate elevation represents less a sudden rise than a carefully crafted inevitability shaped by political realities. Having led the alliance in 2020 when it came within striking distance of power, Tejashwi understood the complex dynamics at play. Despite Congress reportedly using delay tactics to negotiate more seats, the Tejashwi Yadav CM candidate announcement ultimately reflected his undeniable political primacy within the alliance.
His strategic equation with Vikassheel Insaan Party chief Mukesh Sahani proved crucial in smoothing tensions and facilitating the Tejashwi Yadav CM candidate declaration, demonstrating his diplomatic skills beyond mere electoral popularity.
Learning from 2020 Near-Victory
The Tejashwi Yadav CM candidate credentials were substantially strengthened by the 2020 election performance, when the Mahagathbandhan under his leadership fell just 12 seats short of majority. The RJD emerged as the single-largest party with 75 seats, establishing Tejashwi’s electoral viability. Reports suggested he had even prepared for the swearing-in ceremony before the opportunity slipped away, a near-miss that profoundly shaped his political evolution.
Since that heartbreaking loss, the Tejashwi Yadav CM candidate has transformed from being perceived merely as a political dynast to becoming a decisive campaigner who effectively sets narratives around employment, youth empowerment, and welfare policies.
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Political Journey and Evolution
The Tejashwi Yadav CM candidate’s confirmation as the Mahagathbandhan’s undisputed leader comes 15 years after his first press appearance at the RJD office in Patna. A former Delhi Daredevils IPL squad member who never took the field during four seasons, Tejashwi chose politics over cricket, guided by his father Lalu Prasad’s political instincts and aided by trusted adviser Sanjay Yadav.
He entered electoral politics in 2015 from Raghopur in Vaishali district and swiftly ascended to deputy chief minister in Nitish Kumar’s government. During that brief 17-month tenure, the future Tejashwi Yadav CM candidate earned reputation as an efficient road construction minister.
Opposition Leadership Consolidation
Even after Nitish Kumar switched sides citing corruption allegations, the Tejashwi Yadav CM candidate’s rise remained uninterrupted. As Leader of the Opposition, he became the government’s loudest critic, with his 2020 campaign promise of “10 lakh jobs” resonating across Bihar’s youth demographic.
During his second stint as deputy chief minister from 2022-2024, the Tejashwi Yadav CM candidate influenced Nitish’s own policy pitch. The chief minister’s Independence Day speech that year included promises of five lakh government jobs, echoing Tejashwi’s campaign themes and demonstrating his policy influence.
Family Dynamics and Party Control
With elder brother Tej Pratap Yadav pursuing an independent political path and sister Misa Bharti consolidating her position in national politics, the Tejashwi Yadav CM candidate firmly controls the RJD’s direction and destiny. This internal family dynamic has eliminated potential succession disputes and strengthened his position as the undisputed party leader.
Legal Challenges and Controversies
The Tejashwi Yadav CM candidate faces ongoing legal challenges, including a 2017 CBI case involving alleged irregularities in awarding IRCTC hotel maintenance contracts during Lalu Prasad’s railway minister tenure between 2004-2009. A 2022 CBI case accuses him of involvement in exchanging land for Group D railway jobs during the same period.
Additionally, the Tejashwi Yadav CM candidate is accused in a 2020 murder case alongside his brother. His 2020 election affidavit disclosed 11 criminal cases, including charges of criminal conspiracy, cheating, forgery, and offences under anti-corruption and money-laundering laws. He dismisses these as “political vendetta” by the BJP.
Strategic Focus on Employment and Governance
Despite controversies, the Tejashwi Yadav CM candidate has maintained focus on employment and governance issues, challenging the NDA’s “jungle raj” narrative with crime and corruption data from Nitish Kumar’s two-decade rule. This strategic positioning has helped him maintain credibility among Bihar’s youth demographic.
Electoral Prospects
The Tejashwi Yadav CM candidate announcement aims to unseat Chief Minister Nitish Kumar after four consecutive terms. Thursday’s declaration injected confidence into the opposition alliance and shifted focus toward the ruling National Democratic Alliance, setting the stage for a competitive Bihar assembly election.
