'Fully prepared': Tejashwi Yadav after talks with Kharge, Rahul Gandhi on Bihar polls, seat-sharing (Lead)

New Delhi/Patna, April 15 (IANS) In a key move to bolster the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections slated for late this year, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav met Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leader Rahul Gandhi in the national capital on Tuesday.

Following the meeting, Tejashwi Yadav described the interaction as "positive" and emphasised unity within the opposition bloc.

"We discussed the strategy for the Bihar Assembly election 2025. The atmosphere was positive. A follow-up meeting will be held on April 17 in Patna with our Left allies, including CPI-ML, CPI, and CPI-M, to finalise the strategy," he told reporters.

"We don’t reveal strategy in the media, but one thing is certain, we are committed to taking Bihar forward. For 11 years, Narendra Modi has been the Prime Minister. During this period, Bihar has been treated unfairly. In these 20 years of rule, Bihar remains the poorest, with the lowest per capita income and migration is at its peak. You all know we’ve always taken the responsibility to bring public issues to the forefront."

He reiterated the Mahagathbandhan’s readiness, stating: “We are fully prepared and will contest with full strength. The people of Bihar have decided to change the government.”

Asked whether he would be projected as the chief ministerial face of the alliance, Tejashwi Yadav responded: "Why are you all so worried about it? That’s our matter to decide. Ultimately, the people are the real rulers. An INDIA alliance government will be formed."

Congress chief Kharge took to X to echo Tejashwi Yadav’s sentiments and claim a shift in the political momentum in Bihar.

"Today, we met Bihar's former Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav, and the meeting was positive. This time, change is certain in Bihar. In the coming elections, we will offer a strong, just, and welfare-based alternative for the people of Bihar. Bihar will be freed from BJP and its opportunistic thug alliance," he posted.

He asserted that the youth, farmers and backward and marginalised sections of society are all looking to the Mahagathbandhan for governance.

Senior Congress leader KC Venugopal, RJD Rajya Sabha members Sanjay Yadav, and Manoj Kumar Jha, Congress's Bihar in charge Krishna Allavaru and other leaders were also present in the meeting.

While leaders did not disclose specific details, sources confirm that seat-sharing negotiations were a key issue in the meeting.

In the 2020 Bihar Assembly elections, the RJD contested 144 of the total 243 seats and won 75, the Congress contested 70 seats and won 19, the CPI-ML contested 19 seats and won 12, the CPI and the CPI-M contested on 6 and 4 seats, respectively.

The Congress’s underperformance last time has led to calls within the RJD and Left circles to revise the allocation for 2025 to better reflect ground realities.

--IANS

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