Tejashwi Yadav declared INDIA bloc’s chief ministerial candidate for Bihar 2025; Congress leader Udit Raj likens Nitish Kumar to “Eknath Shinde” amid NDA confusion. Key takeaways.
The INDIA bloc has formally named Tejashwi Yadav as its chief ministerial face for the Bihar assembly elections, a move meant to end weeks of infighting and present a unified alternative to the NDA. The announcement came after Congress trouble-shooter Ashok Gehlot intervened to smooth tensions between allies, and several agreed candidates withdrew to avoid contests against coalition partners — a sign the opposition is trying to consolidate votes in target constituencies.
In response, Congress leader Udit Raj launched a sharp attack on the NDA’s leadership, mocking the coalition for failing to name its own CM candidate and comparing Nitish Kumar to Eknath Shinde, suggesting the JD(U) chief has been sidelined by BJP manoeuvring. Udit Raj accused the NDA of betraying Nitish and questioned the alliance’s coherence ahead of polling. The barb recalled power-play scenes from Maharashtra politics and aimed to portray the NDA as internally unsettled.
The INDIA bloc’s decision is designed to sharpen its campaign narrative: a youthful, decisive alternative to the incumbent coalition. Tejashwi, who would become one of the youngest chief ministers if elected, and his allies are betting on targeted seat adjustments and appeals to backward and marginalised communities — while the NDA presses the charge that the opposition remains fractious and driven by dynastic influence. Voters and analysts will watch whether the announcement reduces friendly fights in key seats and how it shifts ground-level alliances in the run-up to polling on Nov 6 and Nov 11.
