BJP Accuses Rahul of ‘Arrogance’ in Bihar Row
Rahul Gandhi avoids naming Tejashwi Yadav as CM candidate.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched a blistering attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of “arrogance” for sidestepping a question about whether Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav would be the opposition Mahagathbandhan’s chief ministerial candidate for the upcoming Bihar assembly elections. The controversy erupted after Gandhi’s press conference in Araria, Bihar, on August 24, 2025, where he deflected queries about Yadav’s candidacy, intensifying speculation about tensions within the opposition’s INDIA bloc.
During the press conference, with Yadav seated beside him, Gandhi was pressed on why Congress has not endorsed the RJD leader as the alliance’s CM face. “All INDIA bloc partners are working together in a spirit of mutual respect, without any tension. We will contest the polls together, and the results will be good,” Gandhi responded, avoiding a direct answer. His vague reply drew sharp criticism from BJP’s IT department head, Amit Malviya, who took to X to lambast Gandhi’s stance. “The existence of Congress in Bihar is dependent on RJD. If RJD breaks the alliance, Congress probably won’t even be able to field candidates in all seats,” Malviya posted. “But look at Rahul Gandhi’s arrogance—he dodged the question.”
Malviya further accused the Congress-RJD alliance of being bound by “the glue of corruption” and driven by a mutual thirst for power, rather than genuine unity. He mocked Yadav for “following Rahul Gandhi around like a lackey,” pointing to Yadav’s recent public endorsements of Gandhi as the INDIA bloc’s potential prime ministerial candidate for the 2029 Lok Sabha polls. Yadav, who served as Bihar’s deputy CM from 2022 to 2024, has been campaigning aggressively, positioning himself as a key figure in the opposition’s bid to challenge the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the state elections expected by November 2025.
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The BJP’s remarks highlight the delicate dynamics within the Mahagathbandhan, which includes Congress, RJD, and other regional parties. Political analysts suggest Gandhi’s reluctance to name Yadav as the CM face may stem from Congress’s desire to maintain leverage within the alliance or appeal to a broader voter base. However, this ambiguity risks alienating RJD supporters, who see Yadav as a natural leader given his prominence and the party’s strong regional influence. In 2020, RJD emerged as the single-largest party in Bihar with 75 seats, while Congress won only 19, underscoring the alliance’s dependence on Yadav’s vote bank.
The controversy comes amid heightened political activity in Bihar, with both the NDA and INDIA bloc intensifying preparations for the polls. The BJP, buoyed by its recent Lok Sabha performance, has been critical of the opposition’s internal rifts, with Malviya asserting that “the people of Bihar understand everything” and will reject the Congress-RJD alliance’s “opportunistic” partnership. Meanwhile, posts on X reflect polarized sentiments, with some users praising Yadav’s grassroots appeal and others accusing Gandhi of undermining allies for personal gain.
As the election approaches, the INDIA bloc faces the challenge of projecting unity while resolving leadership disputes. Gandhi’s evasion and the BJP’s sharp response underscore the high stakes in Bihar, where the outcome could shape the opposition’s national strategy ahead of 2029.