Cracks in RJD-led alliance over CM face

PATNA: Fissures have emerged in Bihar’s opposition Mahagathbandhan with Upendra Kushwaha-led RLSP and Jitan Ram Manjhi-led HAM(S) demanding a “unanimous decision” of all the constituents of the alliance on the CM face for the assembly elections due in October-November.
For some time now, RJD’s projection of its chief Lalu Prasad’s younger son Tejashwi as the CM candidate in case of the Mahagathbandhan emerges victorious in the elections has been the growing bone of contention. Kushwaha, Manjhi and VIP chief Mukesh Sahni met in Patna late Friday evening. The RLSP chief was to leave for Delhi after the meeting.
Meanwhile, LJP chief Chirag Paswan, too, created ripples within the ruling NDA in Bihar on Saturday saying BJP will decide the ruling coalition’s CM face and LJP will agree to whatever decision the saffron party takes. “Being the largest constituent of NDA, BJP has to decide who will lead or be the face of the coalition in Bihar assembly election. LJP will support any decision taken by BJP in the interest of Bihar and our alliance,” Chirag tweeted on Saturday.
RLSP national secretary-general Madhav Anand said the party is of the opinion that Congress should take the lead and resolve the issue through common dialogue. “We understand that RJD has announced its CM face, but the alliance should unanimously agree on it. We don’t have any issues with Tejashwi’s candidature, but it should have everyone’s consent. It is the RJD’s responsibility to get all allies on the same page or Congress should resolve the matter as it is the largest constituent of the alliance at national level,” Anand told TOI over phone from Delhi. He said Kushwaha is likely to meet senior Congress functionary in Delhi and hold deliberations on various poll-related issues, including seat-sharing. Manjhi, the former Bihar CM, has also been saying that Tejashwi’s name as the CM face of the Mahagathbandhan has been proposed solely by RJD, but it should come through a coordination committee comprising all allies. “I have been demanding a coordination committee, but unilateral decisions are being taken by RJD,” he said on Saturday.
Manjhi also invited Bihar CM and JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar to join the Mahagathbandhan. “If he (Nitish) is ready to part ways with the ruling alliance, we will welcome him. I think he is not happy with the BJP’s ideologies and way of functioning,” the HAM(S) chief told reporters.