Tejashwi touts EBC deputy CM pick; taunts BJP on Muslims
What's the story
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav has hit back at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over its criticism of the Mahagathbandhan's choice of a deputy chief ministerial candidate for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections. The alliance, which includes the RJD and Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP), has picked Mukesh Sahani as its deputy CM candidate. The BJP had raised concerns about Muslim representation in this decision.
Accusations
BJP scared, shows hatred toward EBCs: Tejashwi Yadav
Yadav accused the BJP of being "scared" and exposing its "hatred" toward Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs) with its reaction to Sahani's nomination. He asked why Union Home Minister Amit Shah was frustrated by the choice of an EBC leader as Bihar's deputy CM candidate. The RJD leader also accused BJP leaders, including Shah, of hypocrisy for questioning minority representation in the opposition bloc.
Criticism
BJP's Shahnawaz Hussain calls Mahagathbandhan 'mahabhool'
BJP national spokesperson Syed Shahnawaz Hussain dismissed the Mahagathbandhan's decision as a "mahabhool" (mega blunder), claiming it has alienated its M-Y (Muslim-Yadav) vote base. He argued that their M-Y equation now stands for "Mukesh Sahani-Tejashwi Yadav." Meanwhile, the BJP has fielded no Muslim candidates in the 101 seats it is contesting, while the NDA alliance only has five Muslim candidates across its parties.
Caste dynamics
AIMIM accuses RJD-Congress of sidelining Muslims
The Mahagathbandhan has fielded 255 candidates, with 56% from backward or extremely backward communities. This includes a significant number of Yadav (67) and Muslim (30) candidates. The choice of Sahani as deputy CM candidate is seen as an attempt to woo EBCs, who form 36% of Bihar's population, its largest social group. However, the decision has been criticized by the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), which accused the RJD-Congress alliance of sidelining Muslims.
Election schedule
Bihar Assembly elections to be held in 2 phases
The 2025 Bihar Assembly elections will be held in two phases on November 6 and November 11, while the counting of votes will take place on November 14. Yadav will contest from his Raghopur constituency and is the chief ministerial face of the INDIA bloc, while Sahani is the deputy CM candidate.