“Bihar Election 2025: Mahagathbandhan Unites Behind Tejashwi Yadav as CM Face, Congress Joins the Battle”

Congressman Ashok Gehlot stated at the press conference that Rahul Gandhi also desired Tejashwi Yadav to be the chief minister’s face.         

The most significant development in Bihar is that Tejashwi Yadav has been officially designated as the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance), the opposition coalition, as their chief ministerial candidate for the 2025 assembly elections.  The declaration highlights the coalition’s efforts to put up a united front against the ruling party and marks a new change in the state’s political landscape.  At a news conference on October 23, 2025, in Patna, Tejashwi Yadav, the leader of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) in Bihar, was introduced as the Grand Alliance’s campaign spokesperson.  The Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) leader Mukesh Sahani was also announced by the coalition as its choice for deputy chief minister at the same time.

Why this matters:

Voting for Bihar’s 243-seat legislative assembly is set to take place in two stages on November 6 and November 11.  Political rivalry between the opposition bloc, also known as the INDIA bloc, and the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which comprises the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Janata Dal (United) (JDU), has intensified in the region.

The Grand Alliance hopes to strengthen its leadership image, establish distinct differences with the current coalition, and generate momentum before to campaigning by positioning Tejashwi Yadav as the alliance’s chief minister.  Additionally, the action gives the coalition a focal point—a single leader whose name and image can be promoted throughout the state

What Tejashwi and the alliance are saying:

Tejashwi Yadav stated during the press conference that the Grand Alliance was unified to “rebuild Bihar,” not merely to win.  He promised that if given the opportunity, his government would implement reforms and fulfill commitments made by other administrations.  Deccan Herald +1  One of his main points was that if the people of Bihar trusted his alliance with power, it would only take 20 months to do what the previous administration had failed to do in 20 years.  India Today  In addition, he criticized the NDA for not having a clear plan for Bihar’s development and for failing to select a chief minister before the elections, subtly hinting at the ruling coalition’s lack of resolve.

Internal dynamics and seat-sharing:

The announcement follows protracted discussions between the groups that make up the Grand Alliance.  The Left parties (such as the Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Liberation), the RJD, the Congress, and VIP have had to control ambitions, coordinate seats, and come to an agreement on a campaign strategy.  The Times of India, plus one  But there has also been some controversy and debate surrounding the news.  The BJP, for instance, took advantage of the fact that Tejashwi Yadav’s picture was the only one on a grand alliance banner that was unveiled prior to the conference; other important allies, such the Indian National Congress, led by Rahul Gandhi, were not included.  The RJD was accused by the BJP of excluding the Congress from the alliance.  Congress leaders who attended the news conference denied rumours of a split despite these tensions, stating that the partnership remained cohesive.

Strategic implications:

Declaring a CM face at this point gives the Grand Alliance clarity and enables the campaign to unite around a single person rather than a number of rival names.  This can support outreach, message, and branding.  Recognition is increased since Tejashwi Yadav is already well-known in state politics.  The opposition’s action puts more pressure on the NDA.  The Grand Alliance’s decision to name a face now compels the ruling party to either nominate its own candidate for chief minister or mount a vigorous campaign in support of the incumbents.  The BJP has already come under fire for failing to announce a clear candidate for chief minister in the next election.The announcement aids the electorate in understanding who the Grand Alliance’s prospective leader would be in the event of a victory.  CM-face announcements influence voters’ opinions on continuity, leadership, and legitimacy in many Indian states.

What voters are hearing:

Tejashwi and his alliance have made jobs, development, women’s welfare, and a break from the past key points of their campaign speech.  For example, Tejashwi has made a commitment in recent weeks to have “one family, one job,” meaning that if his alliance wins power, at least one member of every home will work for the government.  (This was covered separately before the announcement of the face.)  The Financial Times  Enhancing governance, addressing law and order concerns, and reversing what the alliance characterizes as the stagnation under the ruling coalition are additional topics of discussion.  The story is one of transformation, new leadership, and a new era for bihar.

Challenges ahead:

Despite the declaration of a CM-face, the Grand Alliance still confronts a number of obstacles:  Disagreements over seat sharing: Although the RJD and Congress have mostly agreed on their respective seat distributions, there are still “friendly fights” in some areas where both parties may run candidates, running the risk of splitting votes in crucial seats.  The discipline of India Today Alliance:  It’s still difficult to balance the interests of several parties, allocate symbols, manage campaign funds, and negotiate seats.  Any open show of disagreement might undermine the alliance’s desired “unified front” image.Voter expectations are raised by the alliance’s big pledges and the appointment of Tejashwi Yadav.  Converting momentum into votes will need a great campaign and the delivery of believable promises.  The NDA will not adopt a passive stance.  They will probably step up their campaigning, stress the benefits of staying in office, and draw attention to the dangers of change.  A victory will depend on the campaign narrative, grassroots mobilization, and seat-by-seat strategy; the Grand Alliance CM candidate’s name alone is insufficient.

What happens next:

Following the announcement of the CM face, the Mahagathbandhan will proceed to finalize candidate lists, refine the seat-sharing map, launch publicity throughout Bihar, and formalize the entire campaign plan.  The NDA must react in the interim by defining its own leadership line, fortifying its base, and establishing the narrative conflict.  Early November is when voting will take place.  The two blocs will compete for voters’ attention from now until the polls, promoting their leadership styles, outlining their development plans, and arguing to the millions of eligible voters in Bihar.

Final thoughts:

The Grand Alliance took a risk by appointing Tejashwi Yadav as the chief ministerial candidate.  It establishes the tone for a crucial election in Bihar, channels leadership, and makes promises of change.  The announcement gives voters clarity: this is the type of government they can anticipate if the alliance wins.  It ups the ante for the political elite.  Converting leadership statements into votes and victory is now a race against time for both sides.