BJP Taunts Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Demotion’ in Mahagathbandhan Poster Row

As the Mahagathbandhan gears up for a crucial press conference in Patna, where RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav is expected to be named the alliance’s Chief Ministerial face for the upcoming Bihar elections, the BJP has seized the opportunity to take a sharp dig at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. The absence of Gandhi’s photograph on the event’s posters, which prominently feature only Yadav, has sparked a political firestorm, with the BJP claiming Congress has been “shown its place” by its ally.

The posters, plastered across Patna, spotlight Tejashwi Yadav as the face of the Mahagathbandhan, a move that has not gone unnoticed by the BJP. In a scathing post on X, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla mocked, “Joint PC? But only one picture. Rahul Gandhi & Congress ka ‘samman chori’. Showed Congress & Rahul his place?” The jab cleverly references Gandhi’s ‘vote chori’ campaign, which accuses the Election Commission of poll irregularities in favor of the BJP—a charge both the poll body and the ruling party have dismissed. Poonawalla further alleged that RJD had “bullied and threatened” Congress into accepting Yadav as the alliance’s leader, even warning of “zero seats” if Congress resisted.

The Mahagathbandhan, comprising RJD, Congress, and smaller allies like VIP, CPI, CPM, and CPIML, has faced turbulent seat-sharing talks. Negotiations hit a snag as both RJD and Congress vied for key constituencies, with Congress pushing for a larger share of the 243 seats. The tussle led to both parties announcing candidates for overlapping seats, risking a split in opposition votes that could benefit the BJP-JDU combine. To quell the discord, Congress veteran Ashok Gehlot was dispatched to Patna, and alliance leaders now claim the issues are resolved. However, some “friendly fights” may persist on certain seats.

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In the 2020 Bihar Assembly elections, RJD contested 144 seats and won 75, while Congress fought 70 and secured only 19. This time, RJD has announced candidates for 143 seats, Congress for 59, with VIP potentially contesting 15 and the Left parties (CPIML, CPM, CPI) eyeing around 30. Despite the public show of unity, the poster controversy has given the BJP ammunition to portray Congress as a junior partner in the alliance.

Congress leader Pawan Khera dismissed the BJP’s taunts, calling the poster issue irrelevant. “Let them say whatever they want, but there was never a clash in the Mahagathbandhan,” Khera told reporters. He questioned the significance of the controversy, asking, “Does this matter to Bihar’s youth?” Yet, the BJP’s narrative paints a picture of a weakened Congress, with Poonawalla quipping, “So much for Rahul’s macho man bravadogiri. If alliance partners are threatened, imagine what will happen to the public.”

The press conference, set for today, is expected to project a united front, with Gehlot likely joining Yadav on stage. The alliance hopes to rally voters around a cohesive campaign, but the BJP’s relentless attacks and the lingering seat-sharing disputes could complicate their strategy. Social media is abuzz with reactions, with some users on X mocking Congress’s “humiliation,” while others argue the focus should remain on Bihar’s pressing issues like unemployment and development.

As the election battle heats up, the Mahagathbandhan’s ability to present a united front will be critical. For now, the BJP is capitalizing on every opportunity to highlight cracks in the opposition, with Rahul Gandhi’s absence from the posters serving as their latest talking point. Whether this is a mere hiccup or a sign of deeper rifts, the Patna presser will set the tone for the alliance’s campaign.

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