Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief and former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav stirred political circles on Wednesday with his remark that the INDIA alliance was formed solely for the Lok Sabha elections. While addressing the ongoing discord between the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Delhi, Yadav’s statement triggered heated exchanges within Bihar's political landscape.
“It is not unusual. The primary goal of the INDIA alliance was to defeat the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections. Within such a framework, conflicts between Congress and AAP are not unnatural,” Yadav said. However, he clarified, “As far as Bihar is concerned, we have been aligned from the start.”
RJD and Congress Tensions Surface in Bihar
Adding to the growing rift, RJD spokesperson Mrityunjay Tewari suggested that the Congress should be prepared to contest the upcoming Bihar assembly elections independently. Speaking to CNN-News18, Tewari said, “Congress should not limit itself to aiming for just 70 seats in Bihar. They should gear up to contest all 243 seats. Anything less will not allow them to play an effective role.”
He further criticized Congress, urging the party to reassess its electoral strength in the state. “The last time they contested 70 seats, the results were evident. Congress needs to accept its real position on the ground,” he said in an exclusive interview.
Congress Legislature Party leader Shakil Ahmad Khan fired back, stating, “If anyone underestimates Congress, we will respond in kind. Congress will take them even more lightly.”
NDA Seizes the Opportunity
The public discord between RJD and Congress prompted reactions from the ruling Janata Dal United (JD(U))-led NDA. JD(U) National Spokesperson Rajeev Ranjan claimed the INDIA alliance is disintegrating.
“The comments from RJD and Congress leaders expose the cracks in the so-called UNITED INDIA bloc. Shakeel Ahmed Khan’s sharp response to Tejashwi Yadav highlights the fragility of their alliance. If they can’t stay united, it’s clear they would struggle to fight the elections, even more so as separate entities,” Ranjan said.
Seat-Sharing Talks Loom Large
Political analysts in Patna suggest it may be premature to declare the RJD-Congress alliance dead, but the remarks hint at growing pressure from RJD on Congress regarding seat-sharing negotiations. The RJD appears to be setting the stage to limit Congress’s claims in the assembly elections.
This development comes just weeks after RJD patriarch Lalu Prasad Yadav endorsed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for the leadership of the INDIA alliance, further complicating the coalition’s dynamics.
With the Bihar assembly elections approaching, the future of the INDIA bloc, at least in the state, remains uncertain, as allies navigate ideological differences and strategic priorities.
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