Tejashwi Checks Congress Pulse as Bihar Poll Temperature Rises
Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav (Image credit X.com)
RJD To Calm Nerves in Congress over Bihar Poll Plan Pain
By Amit Kumar
New Delhi, April 15, 2025: Former Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Tejashwi Yadav has arrived in New Delhi for crucial talks with the Congress. The Congress has been cold with the RJD in recent weeks over Tejashwi Yadav’s one-upmanship in Bihar.
“The Congress is anguished that the RJD on own announced Tejashwi Yadav as the CM face of the Opposition bloc, INDIA (Indian National Developmental and Inclusive Alliance). Unilateralism is against alliance interest,” said a senior Congress functionary.
The RJD leader will seek to meet Congress parliamentary chairperson Sonia Gandhi. Tejashwi Yadav called on Congress president Mallikarjuna Kharge. The RJD leader also interacted with former Congress president Rahul Gandhi at Kharge’s residence. Senior Congress and RJD leaders were present at Kharge’s residence.
“Preliminary discussions on contour of seat adjustment among constituents of the Opposition bloc may also be on the card. But it’s too early for seat adjustment talks. The RJD leader will seek to gather sense in the Congress camp,” said a senior RJD functionary from Patna on phone.
Rahul Gandhi has visited Bihar for three occasions in recent weeks. He is seen to have kept away from the RJD during his Bihar visit.
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“The RJD cannot impose its wishes on the alliance. Also, the RJD needs a reality check in the backdrop of the outcome of the Lok Sabha elections last year,” said a senior Congress functionary.
The RJD could win just four Lok Sabha seats while the Congress won three parliamentary constituencies. The CPI (ML), another INDIA constituent, had won two Lok Sabha seats.
But the RJD, sources said, is keen to repeat the 2020 seat adjustment formula for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections. The RJD will be staking claims on more than 150 Assembly seats in Bihar. This will leave just about 93 Assembly seats for other Opposition constituents.
“The seat adjustment pact will need to be a hybrid formula by factoring the outcome of the 2020 Assembly and the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. This will scale down the expectations of the RJD,” added the Congress functionary.
Sources said that the Congress is keen to contest over 60 Assembly seats in Bihar. The CPI (ML) is also keen to contest on a significantly large number of Assembly constituencies.
The Opposition bloc also has constituents such as CPI and others which will demand not less than a dozen Assembly seats. Former Union Minister Pashupati Kumar Paras, who heads the Lok Jan Shakti Party, is also aiming to be a part of INDIA bloc.
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