NEW DELHI: In the midst of sharp differences over seat-sharing between the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Congress, the spotlight is now shifting to Rahul Gandhi’s much-anticipated entry into the Bihar poll campaign. The Congress leader will address his first election rallies in Muzaffarpur and Darbhanga on October 29, marking a crucial moment for the Mahagathbandhan (MGB) alliance as it attempts to project unity amid internal frictions.
Bihar Congress Spokesperson Asit Nath Tiwari confirmed that RJD leader and Mahagathbandhan’s chief ministerial face, Tejashwi Yadav, will share the stage with Rahul Gandhi at both events. The joint appearances are seen as a significant gesture of solidarity between the two major alliance partners, who have fielded rival candidates in several constituencies during the first phase of polling scheduled for November 6.
According to party insiders, Rahul Gandhi will return to Delhi after the Muzaffarpur and Darbhanga rallies, but his campaign team — operating from both Bihar and the national capital — is finalizing a series of additional meetings and rallies before the campaign for the first phase concludes on November 4. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is also expected to join the fray with multiple public meetings across north and central Bihar, alongside other senior leaders of the Mahagathbandhan, including RJD’s Tej Pratap Yadav and Congress state chief Akhilesh Prasad Singh.
On the ruling front, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to spend nearly a week in Bihar addressing multiple rallies across different regions, underlining the BJP’s aggressive push to retain its influence. However, Janata Dal (United) sources indicate that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will hold separate public meetings under the NDA banner, a move that reflects the alliance’s continued balancing act between Modi’s national appeal and Nitish’s regional base.
Political observers believe the contest in Bihar is shaping up to be a fierce two-way battle between the NDA and the Mahagathbandhan, with both camps facing internal strains. However, the emergence of Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj movement has added a new dimension to the electoral battlefield. Analysts estimate that Kishor’s influence could dent the prospects of both the ruling NDA and the opposition alliance on at least 15 to 20 seats, particularly in the politically sensitive northern districts of Muzaffarpur, Sitamarhi, and Darbhanga.
As Bihar moves closer to the first phase of polling, all major political players appear to be tightening their campaign strategies — but much will depend on how convincingly the Mahagathbandhan can display unity when Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav share the stage this week.
[Writer is Senior Journalist and Political Commentator]
