In a significant political development following their electoral defeat, the Opposition Mahagathbandhan in Bihar has elected Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav as their leader in the state legislative assembly. This decision was made during the alliance's first joint meeting since the recent Bihar polls, signaling a unified front ahead of the crucial winter session.
Post-Election Strategy Session
The meeting, held on Saturday at Tejashwi Yadav's residence on 1 Polo Road in Patna, brought together newly elected representatives of the alliance. Tejashwi Yadav, who had returned to Patna earlier that day after maintaining a low profile since the election results, presided over the discussions where alliance leaders reviewed their approach for the upcoming House session and explored a coordinated strategy to corner the government.
RJD leader and Maner MLA Bhai Virender emphasized their commitment, stating, "We will remain present throughout the five-day Assembly session and raise every issue in the House, especially to oppose the government's wrong policies."
Notable Absences and Alliance Unity
The meeting witnessed a conspicuous absence of Congress legislators, with only one Congress MLC, Sameer Singh, in attendance. The absent Congress members were reportedly in Delhi for a party meeting. Despite this, Singh dismissed any speculation of rift within the Opposition alliance, asserting that the coalition remains firmly united.
Sameer Singh expressed concerns about the election outcome, suggesting that "it was felt that such an outcome may have been caused by the Election Commission and the administration's mismanagement." He further clarified that "there is no rift within the Opposition alliance in Bihar and that any such speculation is baseless."
Key Issues and Accountability Focus
The Mahagathbandhan has identified several critical issues that will form the core of their opposition strategy during the winter session. Singh outlined their priorities, emphasizing that "unemployment is a key issue for us, as are law and order, farmers' problems, and women's safety. We will stand firm on all these points and hold the government accountable on every front."
The alliance resolved to fight consistently both inside and outside the Assembly, with Singh adding that "whatever issues the government brings to the House, we will respond accordingly. If the government fails to act on its promises, we will continue our struggle."
Electoral Context and Session Agenda
The political landscape sets the stage for an intense legislative session. The NDA secured a decisive mandate in the Assembly election held earlier this month, winning over 202 seats in the 243-member House. The BJP emerged with 89 seats, followed by JD(U) with 85, LJP(RV) with 19, HAM(S) with five, and RLM with four.
In contrast, the Mahagathbandhan managed to secure only 35 seats, with the RJD winning 25, Congress six, and the remaining four shared among CPI(ML)L, CPI(M) and the IIP. Both the RJD and Congress narrowly avoided matching their lowest-ever seat tallies recorded in 2010.
The five-day winter session of the Bihar Assembly, scheduled from December 1 to December 5, will include several important proceedings:
- Oath-taking of newly elected MLAs on the first day
- Election of the Speaker on the second day
- Governor's address
- Financial and administrative business of the government
This meeting followed individual internal reviews by alliance partners, including the Congress's meeting of its candidates in Delhi earlier last week and the RJD's legislators' review on November 17 at Tejashwi Yadav's residence, where he was unanimously elected as the leader of the party's legislative group.
With the Opposition preparing to present a united front under Tejashwi Yadav's leadership and the ruling NDA entering the House with a strong majority, the winter session is poised to define the initial dynamics of legislative engagement under the new government.
