As Bihar gears up for upcoming assembly elections, the opposition Mahagathbandhan is facing intense scrutiny from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad on Thursday dismissed the alliance as ‘very weak’ after Rahul Gandhi’s photograph was conspicuously missing from promotional materials at a Mahagathbandhan press conference. Prasad highlighted that while symbols of all constituent parties were present, Gandhi’s image was omitted, raising questions about the alliance’s internal dynamics and cohesion.
Addressing reporters in Patna, Prasad elaborated on the perceived weaknesses, pointing to seat-sharing complexities where the alliance plans to contest more seats than are available and the presence of internal rivalries. He stated, “What kind of alliance is this?” and warned that an RJD-led government would bring misery to the people of Bihar. He cited the RJD’s history, including convictions of Lalu Prasad Yadav and corruption charges against Tejashwi Yadav, as reasons for voters to reject them.
BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala also weighed in, questioning if the RJD views Rahul Gandhi as a ‘liability.’ He criticized the Mahagathbandhan for lacking a clear ‘mission or vision’ and being characterized by ‘division and confusion.’ The visual disparity at the press conference, with Tejashwi Yadav’s picture dominant and Gandhi’s absent, has been interpreted as a sign of the Congress party’s declining influence within the coalition. The Bihar assembly elections are scheduled for November 6 and 11, with the NDA and the Mahagathbandhan expected to be the main contenders.