Patna, October 23, 2025 — The opposition INDIA bloc on Thursday officially declared Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav as its Chief Ministerial face for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections. The announcement came during a joint press conference held in Patna, attended by senior leaders from alliance partners including Congress veteran Ashok Gehlot.
Gehlot stated that the decision was taken unanimously after detailed consultations among the coalition members. He described Yadav as the “leader of a new generation” and said his leadership symbolizes the hopes of Bihar’s youth. “The alliance stands united behind Tejashwi Yadav, who has shown both political maturity and a commitment to development,” Gehlot said.
As part of the power-sharing arrangement, the bloc also named Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) founder Mukesh Sahani as one of the Deputy Chief Ministerial candidates. Another Deputy CM post is expected to go to a representative from the backward classes, with the name likely to be announced soon.
Expressing gratitude for the alliance’s trust, Tejashwi Yadav pledged to build a “new Bihar” centered on employment generation, transparency, and social justice. He reiterated his long-standing promise of providing one government job per family and vowed to end the state’s migration crisis by creating sustainable local opportunities.
Yadav also took a sharp dig at Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and the ruling NDA government, accusing them of fostering corruption and lawlessness. “Bihar deserves change, not chaos. Our goal is to restore faith in governance and ensure every youth finds dignity in their own state,” he said.
Political analysts see this move as a strategic effort by the INDIA bloc to consolidate anti-NDA votes and present a unified alternative ahead of the elections. The first phase of polling is scheduled for November 6, 2025, and the alliance hopes to leverage Yadav’s popularity among young and rural voters to regain lost ground in the state.
