Bihar train trips inhuman: Rahul; 12k spl trains running, 1.5cr travelled: Rlys
NEW DELHI: As Congress MP Rahul Gandhi slammed the rush in trains to Bihar, the railways reiterated it was running 12,000 special trains for Diwali, Chhath and Bhai Dooj to ease travel during the festive season. Rahul Saturday claimed on X that trains to Bihar are “packed, tickets are impossible to get, and the journey has become inhuman” during the festival season. “Where are the 12,000 special trains?,” he asked the Centre, as he also shared a video showing overcrowded trains at railway stations on one hand and PM Minister Narendra Modi flagging off trains on the other on a split screen. In response, railways asserted, “Crowds are natural during festivals, but Indian Railways is striving for the convenience of passengers.” Listing its efforts for passenger safety and comfort, railways mentioned holding areas at 30 stations in Bihar for return journeys after Chhath Puja, war rooms and mini control rooms in every zone, and war room at the board level. The Congress neta alleged in his post, “These are not just helpless passengers, they are living proof of the deceitful policies and intentions of the NDA.” Railways in its rebuttal said over 1.5 crore passengers have travelled on special trains; holding areas have been created at major stations, additional ticket counters have been set up, and there is 24×7 deployment for cleanliness, security and ensuring smooth travel. “It is a month of festivals – Diwali, Bhai Dooj, Chhath. In Bihar, these festivals do not just mean faith, they also mean a longing to return home – the smell of soil, the affection of family, the feeling of belonging in the village. But this desire has now become a struggle,” Rahul said. Congress MP Akhilesh Prasad Singh highlighted that Chhath is very special for Bihar and its people. “There was initially a great deal of relief when (PM) Modi and railway minister announced that 12,000 trains would be used to transport people to their homes, but only 1,500 trains were actually run,” he said. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Dalit leader’s exit reveals RJD’s internal differences
Gaya: The unexpected exclusion of Makhdumpur MLA Satish Das from the RJD’s candidate list for the Magadh division has stirred unease within the party’s regional ranks. Das, a former Marxist who joined the RJD to champion social justice, is believed to have faced consequences for not aligning with the region’s most influential RJD leader, according to his supporters. Political circles are abuzz with reports that following the denial of ticket, prominent Dalit leader and Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad reached out to Das, offering him a ticket from his party. Dalit leader Ratan Lal also reportedly contacted Das to express solidarity, recognizing him as an emerging Dalit voice in the region. When asked about these developments, Das declined to confirm or deny the outreach. “What I can confirm is that I remain committed to the party and will continue advocating for the marginalised,” he stated. On speculation that Jehanabad MP Surendra Yadav played a role in his exclusion, Das refrained from naming persons but remarked that “neo-feudal” elements exist across parties and still struggle to accept Dalit assertiveness. Yadav did not respond to calls seeking his comment. Regarding whether he would campaign for Vishwanath Yadav, Surendra Yadav’s son and RJD candidate from Belaganj (a constituency bordering Makhdumpur), Das said he would follow the party leadership’s directives. Privately, several RJD leaders acknowledged that denying Das a ticket may have sent a negative message. Former MLA and senior RJD leader Vinod Kumar Yadavendu described the decision as unjustified. Although Subedar Das, the new RJD candidate for Makhdumpur, belongs to the same Dalit sub-caste, insiders believe the move signals a reluctance by mainstream parties to embrace Dalit empowerment. Adding to the concern is Satish Das’s broader appeal—he is also popular among minority communities and played a key role in the anti-CAA protests in Gaya during 2019–20, alongside Congress leader Omair Khan. While Khan has secured a ticket from Biharsharif, Das finds himself sidelined. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Mayawati damages Akhilesh’s formula:After Dalits, major OBC meeting convened; Muslim brotherhood Committee formed
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati is going to hold the fourth major meeting within a month. On November 1, BSP has called a meeting of backward classes in Lucknow. Usually, this meeting was held on the 11th of every month. This meeting was conducted by State President Vishwanath Pal, Mewalal Gautam, and State Treasurer and National General Secretary Ram Avatar Mittal. But for the first time, the date of this meeting has been changed. The meeting notice has also been issued from Mayawati’s office. According to party sources, after Dalits, BSP is now focusing on backward classes. Along with this, Mayawati has also formed Muslim Brotherhood committees. Political experts view this move by BSP as a counter to SP’s PDA (Backward, Dalit, Minority) ahead of the 2027 assembly elections. What is BSP’s complete plan? What does BSP want to achieve by winning over OBCs and Muslims? The BSP meeting will include divisional in-charges of the Backward Class Brotherhood Committee and district in-charges of the Backward Class Brotherhood Committee. On October 9, along with a large number of Dalits, people from the OBC community also came to Lucknow. Now, Mayawati will call a meeting of the Backward Class Brotherhood Committee to thank them for this success. Additionally, they will visit the OBC community in their respective areas to express gratitude and inform them about the party’s policies and practices. The OBC population in the state is more than 50 percent. While 8 percent Yadavs are SP’s core voters, regional parties and satraps under the names of Kurmi-Nishad and Rajbhar keep collecting votes from these sections in different parties. The remaining 30 percent OBC community is scattered. How important is OBC community for BSP? Mayawati’s focus is on uniting these OBC castes. This is why BSP has given the command of state president to Vishwanath Pal, who comes from the extremely backward Pal community, for the second consecutive time. Senior journalist Syed Kasim, who closely monitors BSP’s politics, says – Mayawati is focused on sharpening social engineering. The formation of Dalit, OBC, Muslim brotherhood committees and their meetings are indicating in this direction. In 2007, BSP had several faces from the OBC community like Babu Kushwaha, Swami Prasad Maurya, Om Prakash Rajbhar, Ram Achal Rajbhar, Ram Prasad Chaudhary, Daddu Prasad, Sukhdev Rajbhar, and Phagu Chauhan. Many of them were given positions in Mayawati’s cabinet. BSP also formed Muslim Brotherhood committees Bahujan Samaj Party has started forming Muslim Brotherhood Committees in the state. Mayawati has appointed Mohammad Asad as the coordinator of the Muslim Brotherhood Committee in the Ayodhya division. Similarly, this responsibility has been given to Sarwar Malik in the capital, Lucknow. Currently, Muslim Brotherhood Committees are being formed at the division level. After this, Muslim Brotherhood Committees will be formed at the district level and then at the assembly level. Mayawati has already made it clear in her previous meeting that the formation of Brotherhood Committees of various communities across the state should be completed before January 2026. Senior journalist Ratan Mani Lal says – When BSP became a partner in power with SP’s support, it only had a Dalit support base. But after this, to increase its public base, it started connecting with different castes through brotherhood conferences. At that time, a large number of Muslims joined BSP. There were many prominent Muslim faces in the number two position in BSP. Nasimuddin Siddiqui was one of BSP’s prominent Muslim faces How much damage to SP’s PDA from BSP’s strategy Political analysts say that SP is showing the most panic from BSP’s social engineering formula. After the October 9 event, the way SP leaders attacked BSP chief Mayawati makes it clear that SP fears damage from BSP’s strategy. SP benefited the most from the PDA slogan in 2024. Then SP had received support from large populations of Muslims, OBCs, and Dalits. BSP has been engaged in deflating SP’s PDA through 4 major events in the last month. BSP has appealed to Dalit (D) voters through the October 9 program. Meanwhile, it has tried to send a big message by holding UP-Uttarakhand and National Executive meetings in Lucknow on October 16 and 19. Now, by calling a meeting of the Backward Class Brotherhood Committee on November 1 and forming the Muslim Brotherhood Committee, Mayawati has targeted SP’s Backward (P) and Minority (A) voters. Know why BSP is eyeing OBCs? Courtesy : Bhaskar English Note: This news is originally published on https:/bhaskarenglish.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Gandhi family ‘stole’ Sitaram Kesri’s Cong presidency: PM
NEW DELHI: PM Modi on Friday invoked the “insults” heaped on former Congress president Sitaram Kesri by the Gandhi family to accuse the party of denying rights to SCs and OBCs, as he launched his Bihar poll campaign attacking the opposition over backward-class welfare. Recalling Kesri’s controversial removal in 1998 to make way for Sonia Gandhi, Modi said country would never forget how the family insulted the “pride of Bihar”. “This family stole Kesri’s presidency of Congress,” he said at a rally in Begusarai – a pointed twist on Rahul’s charge of “vote theft”. The PM’s attack came on Kesri’s 25th death anniversary. Earlier in the day, Rahul, along with Congress general secretary K C Venugopal, paid tributes to Kesri at the Congress headquarters on Akbar Road – ironically, the venue of his ouster as party chief. Kesri, a freedom fighter from the OBC Bania community, headed Congress from 1996 to 1998 and earlier served as Bihar PCC chief and party treasurer. When many in the party sought Sonia’s elevation, veterans insisted Kesri be allowed to complete his term. But the Congress Working Committee appointed Sonia, claiming Kesri had resigned – a charge he denied. His removal under controversial circumstances reportedly saw his nameplate tossed away and the octogenarian forced out of AICC office. “This family locked Kesri inside a bathroom and threw him to footpath,” Modi alleged. Kesri had taken over from P V Narasimha Rao after Congress lost power in 1996, but as Sonia decided to enter active politics ahead of the 1998 polls, loyalists pushed him out in what many called a “coup”. Congress has denied any mistreatment of Kesri. TNN Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Rahul Gandhi missing from the Grand Alliance’s press conference poster, sparking discussions in political circles about showing Congress its place.
Bihar Elections: Pappu Yadav, speaking to the media, said that Rahul Gandhi’s picture should have been on the Grand Alliance’s poster. Meanwhile, only Tejashwi Yadav’s picture was visible at the Grand Alliance’s press conference. A controversy has erupted within the Grand Alliance over Lalu Prasad Yadav finally showing the Congress its place. Patna: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) took a jab at the Congress in Bihar just hours before the Grand Alliance’s joint press conference in Patna on Thursday. The BJP attacked the Congress citing the absence of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s picture from the press conference posters. Sources said the press conference was scheduled to formally announce Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav as the Grand Alliance’s chief ministerial candidate for the Bihar elections. However, before this crucial announcement, the BJP highlighted the RJD’s dominance within the Grand Alliance. BJP’s Sarcasm BJP leader Gaurav Bhatia compared Tejashwi Yadav to Mughal emperor Aurangzeb on this issue. Bhatia posted on X, “After Aurangzeb, now Tejaszeb! No other king was so insecure. The pictures of the national president, fodder scamster Lalu Prasad Yadav, and Rahul Gandhi are missing. The legacy of Jungle Raj and the status of the Congress are both missing from the poster.” He tweeted and tagged Tejashwi Yadav and other RJD and Congress leaders. Questions to the Congress Party BJP spokesperson Shahzad Poonawala posted on X, “Joint Press Conference? But only one picture. ‘Stealing the honor’ of Rahul Gandhi and the Congress. Has Congress and Rahul been shown their place?” It should be noted that Rahul Gandhi’s photo is missing from the poster, raising questions about what kind of alliance this is. The BJP has raised questions about the absence of a leader’s photo from the joint press conference. Meanwhile, Pappu Yadav has also taken a dig at the poster. Pappu Yadav’s Statement Independent MP Pappu Yadav’s statement on this issue added fuel to the fire when he said that votes would be cast on Gandhi’s photo. He said that voting would only be done on Rahul Gandhi’s photo, not anyone else’s. There should have been photos of all three alliance leaders. This is not right and will not send the right message. We can win Bihar only on the face of Rahul Gandhi. We have no other way to win here. Edited by: Ashutosh Kumar Pandey About the Author Ashutosh Kumar Pandey works for Navbharat Times Online. He has been active in digital, print, and electronic journalism for over 22 years. He specializes in digging into the past pages of politics and uncovering unheard stories. He presents political anecdotes in a witty manner. Courtesy: Hindi News
Congress has once again surrendered to the RJD. Why does the “Ekla Chalo” movement derail in Bihar? Understand this.
Bihar Election News: Ahead of the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections, the Congress party, which had been adamant about its stand, has now suddenly backtracked. It has accepted Tejashwi Yadav’s leadership in Bihar. The question is, if the Congress is going to surrender, then why is it glaring? Patna: On October 23rd, something happened at Hotel Maurya in Patna that was not expected, at least this time. It was becoming clear that the Congress was ready to throw off the RJD’s crutches in the Bihar Assembly elections. But two days before October 23rd, the sudden entry of former Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot changed the entire scenario. The changed scene on October 23rd On this day, the media received an invitation to a press conference. This invitation specifically came from the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Congress. The time was set for 11:30 am. But the posters displayed outside and inside made one thing clear: Congress has once again surrendered to the RJD. We’re not saying this, but it’s being widely discussed in political circles. The buzz is so intense that even the average person in Patna is seen discussing the same thing at a tea stall or a Kachori stall. Congress has done it again. This time, it seemed, it would show its strength and demonstrate its power by separating from the RJD. But in the end, it failed again. Congress’s Surrender to the RJD These posters made one thing clear: Tejashwi Yadav would be the Grand Alliance’s CM candidate in Bihar. The same Tejashwi Yadav whose CM candidacy had been silent on the question of Rahul Gandhi during the Voter Rights Yatra. Following this, Bihar Congress in-charge Krishna Allavaru also demonstrated the backbone of the Bihar Congress and refused to bow down to the RJD. But how did this sudden change of stance occur? Many stories are being fabricated about this. The first story: Lalu’s call! One story is that Congress had tried to woo the Left and VIP to make Tejashwi Yadav, or RJD, the younger brother of the alliance. But the shrewd Lalu Prasad Yadav realized that the less experienced Tejashwi Yadav had fallen into this trap. Therefore, Lalu Prasad Yadav must have spoken directly to Sonia Gandhi in Delhi and told her that if Congress had its way, he would field RJD candidates against all of her party’s candidates. This is why Ashok Gehlot was given the responsibility to resolve the matter. But in Patna, Lalu Yadav must have bluntly told Ashok Gehlot the same thing. Second Story – Congress Got Scared! Another story is that seeing RJD’s stubborn stance, Congress must have feared that if RJD’s votes were not transferred to Congress candidates out of anger, it would be a disaster. Therefore, it was best to handle the situation in a timely manner. That is why Ashok Gehlot himself had to come forward and admit in a press conference to all the parties in the Grand Alliance that the election would be fought on Tejashwi’s face. What Political Experts Say Patna’s renowned political expert and educationist, Dr. Sanjay Kumar, says, “Since 1990, Congress has never been able to muster the courage to strengthen its base. It has always proved itself dwarfed by the RJD. Naturally, its own workers become disillusioned and apathetic, and then they turn to other parties. The RJD understands this weakness of the Congress very well and always exploits it through pressure politics.” The RJD has been exploiting the Congress’s weaknesses from the very beginning. The real question: What is the matter? This was when the late Sitaram Kesri was the national president of the Congress. In the 1990s, Congress supported Lalu Prasad Yadav and helped him remain in power. After this, when Lalu Prasad Yadav split from the Janata Dal and formed the Rashtriya Janata Dal in 1997, Congress remained with him for power. It is said that in this way, Congress gradually alienated its base vote bank, which to this day has remained with it due to Lalu Yadav and has gone to the BJP. Authored by: Rishikesh Narayan Singh About the Author Rishikesh Narayan Singh is in charge of Bihar-Jharkhand for Navbharat Times Digital. His 20-year journey in journalism spanned from Janmat TV, IBN7, ETV Bihar-Jharkhand, News18 Bihar-Jharkhand, to Times Internet. After starting in the national capital, Delhi, he now works in Bihar. Courtesy: Hindi News
Bihar polls: Mahagathbandhan to release joint manifesto on October 28; Tejashwi, Rahul’s joint rallies planned
NEW DELHI: The opposition Mahagathbandhan will release its joint manifesto for the upcoming Bihar assembly elections on October 28 in Patna, news agency ANI reported quoting sources. According to ANI, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge will also begin their campaign for the Bihar elections on October 28, after the Chhath Puja festival. Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav will also address joint rallies before the first phase of polling and later for constituencies voting in the second phase. This comes after the opposition INDIA bloc earlier in the day announced RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav as its chief ministerial candidate for the Bihar polls. The move is aimed at ending internal differences and presenting a united front before the elections. Senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot, who has been in Patna since Wednesday to resolve disagreements with the RJD, said the decision was approved by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leader Rahul Gandhi. At a press conference, Gehlot said that Vikassheel Insan Party (VIP) chief Mukesh Sahni and leaders from other communities will be made deputy chief ministers if the INDIA bloc forms the government in Bihar, “keeping in mind the complex social structure of Bihar.” “We have decided, after consultations with our national president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, besides all coalition partners who are here, to name Tejashwi Yadav ji as our chief ministerial candidate,” Gehlot said. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Bihar polls: Mukesh Sahani emerges as Mahagathbandhan’s wildcard; is Congress the weakest link?
NEW DELHI: The Mahagathbandhan on Thursday announced Tejashwi Yadav as its chief ministerial candidate and Mukesh Sahani as the deputy CM face ahead of the Bihar assembly elections. While Tejashwi’s candidature was widely expected, Sahani’s unexpected rise – from a one-time NDA ally often dismissed by rivals to a key power centre within the alliance has become the defining development, signalling a shift in the coalition’s caste arithmetic and leadership dynamics. Behind the show of unity, however, tensions simmer. As Sahani celebrates his political revival, Congress appears to be the uneasy partner in this new equation. Grassroots dissatisfaction over ticket distribution, coupled with its declining influence in seat-sharing talks, raises questions about whether the grand old party is losing ground within Bihar’s opposition bloc. Tejashwi formally declared CM face, Sahani named his deputy The Mahagathbandhan formally announced Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and former deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav as its chief ministerial face for the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections. Alongside, Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) chief Mukesh Sahani was declared the alliance’s deputy chief ministerial candidate. The announcement, made during a joint press conference of alliance partners in Patna, ended weeks of speculation over leadership and marked a new phase of coordination within the opposition bloc. Senior Congress leader and election observer Ashok Gehlot said, “All of us sitting here have decided that in these elections, we support Tejashwi Yadav as the CM face.” He confirmed that the Mahagathbandhan would contest the upcoming polls in complete unity, adding that Sahani would serve as Tejashwi’s deputy if the alliance comes to power. Mukesh Sahani: From political exile to deputy CM face Mukesh Sahani’s recent elevation marks a remarkable political comeback. The Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) had originally been part of the Mahagathbandhan, but disagreements over seat-sharing—stemming from the Rashtriya Janata Dal’s reluctance to prioritise smaller allies—led Sahani to exit the coalition. He later joined the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and was allotted 11 seats in the 2020 Bihar elections. Although Sahani lost his own contest, his party managed to win four seats. Sahani was subsequently elected to the Bihar Legislative Council, albeit for a shorter term of one and a half years, which expired in July 2022. Once an NDA ally, Sahani faced political isolation after his fallout with the BJP. His decision to contest against the BJP in both the Bihar Legislative Council and Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections further marginalized him, with several VIP MLAs defecting to the BJP in 2022. In the 2022 Uttar Pradesh elections, Sahani announced plans to field 160 candidates to “oust the incumbent BJP government,” and in Bihar, he fielded 55 candidates against his former ally—but none won. Following these setbacks, a BJP MLA suggested that Sahani’s political chapter in Bihar was over, hinting at his removal as minister and even a potential internal coup within the VIP. Sahani also defied NDA seat-sharing arrangements in the Bihar Legislative Council elections, fielding seven candidates against the BJP once again. In 2025, however, Sahani has staged a political revival, now named the deputy chief ministerial candidate of the opposition bloc. Speaking to reporters in Patna ahead of the announcement, he appeared confident: “Why would I have a problem with anything? Can’t you tolerate so much happiness on my face? Mahagathbandhan is moving forward very strongly.” His elevation seems a calculated strategy by the Mahagathbandhan to consolidate Nishad (fishermen) votes and appeal to smaller caste groups that have drifted away from the major alliances. The support base for the Vikassheel Insaan Party consists mainly of the Nishad, Nonia, Bind, Beldar community, which comprises 20 sub-castes of fisherman and boatmen. It also signals social inclusivity — a card the RJD-led bloc has traditionally used effectively in Bihar’s caste-driven politics. Congress on shaky ground? While the alliance celebrated unity on stage, discontent brewed within the Congress. In recent weeks, several party workers have expressed anger over the ticket distribution process, alleging bias and manipulation by senior leaders in charge of Bihar affairs. Congress worker Munna Shahi told ANI, “Those whom Rahul Gandhi had entrusted and sent here are from the five-star hotel culture, and they don’t like to be brought down to poor ashrams here… We have only one demand, ‘ticket chor, gaddi chod’… The selection process has lost its basis. Only eye wash remains now.” After the Congress CEC meeting on Bihar polls, another worker said, “It was said that those people who will be on the screening committee, those who will have their online application will be given tickets. But a few leaders like Krishna Allavaru and Rajesh Ram are making women work hard and go from door to door but cheating them at the end. The promise made by Rahul Gandhi, to honour the youth and women is being broken by Krishna Allavaru. We, the Congress workers, will not stand it. Bihar will not accept it.” Interestingly, on Thursday elevating Congress also replaced Allavaru as Youth Congress chief and brought in Manish Sharma. The internal tensions in the recent weeks by local leaders point to a widening gap between the Congress high command and its state unit. This recurring issue has hurt the party’s performance in multiple states. The weakest link? The Mahagathbandhan’s recalibrated leadership matrix leaves the Congress in an uncomfortable spot. With the RJD holding the chief ministerial claim and the VIP now rewarded with the deputy slot, Congress finds itself without a distinct bargaining chip. Its performance in the 2020 polls, where it contested 70 seats but won only 19, has weakened its ability to negotiate. The current configuration suggests a more RJD-centric alliance, with Tejashwi and Sahani symbolising the blend of legacy and new social representation, while Congress remains peripheral. The joint manifesto of the Mahagathbandhan is set to be released on October 28, after Chhath Puja, with Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra expected to join the campaign. However, unless it manages to address internal dissent and project a clear message, Congress could risk further erosion in Bihar’s evolving
BJP insensitive towards crime against Dalits: SP
Lucknow: Reacting to an ailing Dalit elderly made to lick his urine in Lucknow temple, Samajwadi Party accused BJP govt of being insensitive towards crime against Dalits. “One must not be humiliated and handed out inhumane punishment for a mistake committed unknowingly. Change (of BJP govt) will bring the transformation,” SP president Akhilesh Yadav wrote on X, posting a video in which the victim was narrating the horror he underwent. “UP tops the list of states with maximum number of cases of crime against Dalits. What happened in Kakori (in Lucknow) is a result of the mindset that is finding resonance in the corridors of power,” said an SP functionary. He recalled how the CM’s residence and a temple in Kannauj were “purified and washed with Gangajal” because SP chief Akhilesh Yadav had visited the two places to claim that the BJP’s mindset against Dalits stems from its hate towards the Backward classes and the deprived. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Bid to stem rot in INDIA bloc as Congress leaders Gehlot, Allavaru meet RJD’s Lalu, Tejashwi
Patna: Amid the prevailing stalemate over seat sharing and the projection of the CM face in the opposition INDIA bloc, senior Congress leaders Ashok Gehlot and Krishna Allavaru, the in charge of the party in Bihar, met RJD chief Lalu Prasad and his son Tejashwi Prasad Yadav on Wednesday. Although it was not known what transpired during the meeting, informed sources said they discussed resolving the tensions quickly. They are also working on a strategy to project Tejashwi as the opposition’s CM face, which has been a major issue of conflict between the RJD and Congress, they said. The Congress has, so far, refrained from naming the Yadav scion as the CM face, although Tejashwi projected Congress leader Rahul Gandhi as the prime minister face for the next Lok Sabha polls. Internal conflicts, confusions and and a lack of coordination among the INDIA bloc partners had made headlines, prompting the top leadership to intervene and resolve the tension before it spoiled the opposition’s show, sources said. Talking to a section of media, Dipankar Bhattacharya, general secretary of the CPI(ML) — an ally — said he was hopeful that “Tejashwi’s name as the opposition’s CM face could be officially announced at the INDIA bloc’s joint press conference on Thursday”. “Entire Bihar knows that Tejashwi will be the CM if the INDIA bloc gets the majority. Tejashwi becoming the CM is as right as Nitish Kumar not becoming the CM again,” he said. Emerging from the meeting with Lalu and Tejashwi, Gehlot refused to comment on the issue, claiming all confusions would be resolved at the Thursday media conference. “Our meeting with Lalu was highly positive. The INDIA bloc is fully united and contesting the elections with strength. Tomorrow, the full situation will be clarified at the presser,” Gehlot said. He rejected the friendly fight in the INDIA bloc as an issue, saying such things are normal. “Bihar wants a change, and people understand that the victory of the INDIA alliance is in the interest of the state as well as country,” he said. Gehlot, who was accompanied by Allavaru — largely blamed by a section of the party leaders in the state for messing things up — insisted that the Congress was serious about the assembly polls. Earlier in the day, Tejashwi rejected any controversy in the opposition alliance. “There is no controversy and confusion in the INDIA bloc … Will talk tomorrow (Thursday) … You will get answers to every question,” Tejashwi said. Unity in the INDIA bloc appeared to hit a roadblock when the allies were found announcing their own list of candidates without considering the interests of other partners, and secretly handing party symbols to their candidates. The opposition leaders were last seen together at the launch of the ‘Ati Pichhda EBC Sankalp Patra’ in Patna on Sept 24. The launch was attended by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, party MP Rahul Gandhi, RJD leader Tejashwi and VIP chief Mukesh Sahani among others. Prior to that, they were found travelling together during the fortnight-long Voter Adhikar Yatra launched by Rahul, which passed through some 25 districts. But the momentum built up after the yatra apparently broke, with chaos, confusion and tension in the opposition camp. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights