Janhit: Tejashwi Declares Himself Bihar CM Candidate, Rahul Gandhi Stays Silent | ABP NEWS

Rahul Gandhi’s 14-day, 1600 km "Voter Adhikar Yatra" in Bihar has concluded, marking a politically charged journey ahead of the 2025 Assembly elections. The yatra witnessed major developments, most notably Tejashwi Yadav declaring himself the Chief Ministerial candidate in Rahul’s presence—an announcement that wasn't officially endorsed by Gandhi himself, sparking speculation of internal rifts within the INDIA alliance. The campaign also saw SP chief Akhilesh Yadav joining hands with Rahul, giving the slogan "Awaadh ke baad ab Magadh jeetenge" (After Awaadh, we’ll conquer Magadh), signaling a stronger UP-Bihar regional collaboration. However, visuals of Akhilesh and Tejashwi trailing behind Rahul during events sparked criticism and claims of a power imbalance within the alliance. Controversies shadowed the yatra, from alleged communal appeasement accusations after Rahul’s visit to Muslim religious places to a viral video involving derogatory language against PM Modi’s mother. Meanwhile, BJP capitalized on these missteps, demanding an apology and highlighting Congress’s “vote-bank politics.” Adding to the alliance's concern are emerging players like Chirag Paswan and Prashant Kishor. Kishor’s growing influence among Muslim voters in eastern Bihar is unsettling traditional vote banks. Tejashwi’s eagerness for CM candidature, without broad consensus, signals anxiety over Congress’s increasing dominance. With Akhilesh being used as the face of "PDA politics" (Backward, Dalit, Minority), the alliance is trying to consolidate marginalized groups. Whether this show of unity translates into votes remains uncertain, but Bihar’s political chessboard has clearly entered an intense phase.