PATNA/NEW DELHI: Amid claims that the protracted RJD-Congress confrontation over seat distribution is likely to be over soon, the alliance biggies are set to hit another test of coherence – Tejashwi Yadav’s projection as CM face.After the closing of nominations for the first phase, INDIA bloc partners appear to be headed for contesting against each other also in Bachhwara, Vaishali, Tarapur, Gaura Bauram, Lalganj, Kahalgaon, Rajapakar, Rosera, Biharsharif and Warisaliganj. In constituencies like Bachhwara, Rajapakar, Rosera and Biharsharif, CPI is locked in a straight fight with Congress while on seats such as Vaishali, Warisaliganj, Lalganj and Kahalgaon, the RJD is directly up against Congress. In the remaining two seats–Gaura-Bauram and Tarapur, the RJD will face VIP candidates.
The “friendly fights” have led to bad optics. The challenge of putting up a united front may stiffen if Congress, CPI-ML don’t acquiesce to RJD’s demand to project Tejashwi as CM candidate.The RJD has long been pushing for a clear-cut declaration by the alliance that it is fighting the Bihar elections under the leadership of the Yadav scion as the chief ministerial candidate. At one point, the RJD leader even said that the alliance will not go into the polls without a face, combining it with the taunt that Mahagathbandhan is not NDA which does not have a face, hinting at the non-projection of Nitish Kumar by BJP.But all through the debate, Congress has steered clear of committing itself to the issue positively, with the most palatable offering being that it will decide the issue at an appropriate time. Three weeks before the election is certainly the window to take a decision either way.While individuals in Bihar Congress have stated that the RJD leader is the CM face, the collective official weight of a Congress declaration is conspicuously missing.Congress insiders have argued that there is no ambiguity about Tejashwi‘s projection. Right at the start of the alliance process in June, the RJD leader was made the chairman of the coordination committee of allies, which was to take decision on the nitty gritties of alliance making. “Where is the confusion about his leadership? He is the leader of opposition in Bihar and also the leader of the largest party in the alliance,” a key manager told TOI. Other allies have no reservations on Tejashwi. But some in Congress have believed that keeping the issue undeclared helps retain the voters who may gravitate towards the party, but are averse to RJD.CPI-ML, the other important player of the opposition alliance, has taken a stand mirroring Congress’. On Saturday, senior party sources told TOI that Tejashwi was Mahagathbandhan’s “obvious” candidate, but tiptoed around the question of why that clarity has not translated into a declation.CPI-ML sources in Patna put down the reluctance to “strategic considerations”, something that appeared to reflect the same realisation as the Congress’.As the son and political successor of Lalu Prasad, a polarising figure whose rule, while initially empowering OBCs, is widely perceived to be synonymous with lawlessness, corruption, non-governance, overwhelming bias for Yadavs, a systematic attempt to undermine the upper castes and patronage for gangsters like late Mohammad Shahabuddin, Tejashwi can be the lightning rod for the resentment that “jungle raj” continues to generate.The strong remarks recently made by a special court about Lalu being the “fountain head of corruption” and wife Rabri Devi and Tejashwi being beneficiaries of the sleaze under him, was a warning that projecting him as CM candidate, while enthusing Yadavs and Muslims, could carry political costs.However, RJD wants a clear-cut declaration of the CM face and has emphasised its cruciality for Mahagathbandhan.As and when the alliance stitches the seat-sharing formula, the issue of CM candidate is bound to occupy the political chatter. The alliance is ready with a draft of the manifesto, and many believe its unveiling would be the moment to showcase a leader.RJD appeared to test the effectiveness of ambiguity as a leverage by hinting that it might field its own candidate, Suresh Paswan, for the Kutumba seat which in the last two elections was won by state Congress chief Rajesh Kumar.“Dalit dabega nahin–jhukega nahin, Ab inquilab hoga (Dalits can’t be cowed down…Won’t bow down. Now, revolution will take place),” Congress chief Kumar wrote on his social media post. He did not name anyone but the assertion appeared to be aimed at RJD. He came out with another post on Saturday afternoon claiming the people of Kutumba are with him and ultimately, he would romp home.
