Tejashwi Yadav Files Nomination From Raghopur While INDIA Bloc Seat Sharing Deal Yet to Be Sealed

New Delhi: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and leader of opposition in the Bihar assembly Tejashwi Yadav on Wednesday (October 15) filed his nomination papers for the upcoming elections from Raghopur. The Bihar leader of opposition’s nomination comes even before the INDIA bloc has announced its seat sharing arrangements among its alliance partners.

Yadav was accompanied by his parents, former chief ministers Lalu Prasad Yadav and Rabri Devi, as well as his sister and Lok Sabha MP Misa Bharti as he filed his papers from the family bastion.

“The people of the Raghopur Assembly constituency have trusted me the last two times, and this is the third time I am filing my nomination from this constituency. I have faith that the people of Raghopur will support me this time as well,” said Tejashwi to reporters after filing his papers. 

“We have resolved to ensure that every family in Bihar has one government job. We have to end unemployment from its roots and take Bihar forward. We want a government of padhai, dawai, kamai (education, health, employment). We don't want to just form the government but build Bihar. People are tired of corruption. Now Bihar wants to become a corruption-free state.”

Also read: ‘Nothing is Well’: Cracks Appear in NDA Seat Sharing Deal Ahead of Bihar Elections

“Some people were making claims that I will contest elections on two seats. Tejashwi is contesting on all 243 seats. I have been contesting elections from Raghopur and I will keep doing the same. Our INDIA alliance is contesting 243 seats so Tejashwi is also contesting on 243 seats,” he added.

After filing his nomination, in a post on X, Tejashwi reiterated his party’s promise announced last week that after forming the government, the RJD will provide government jobs to every family in Bihar within 20 days.

While the opposition Mahagathbandhan has not announced him as the chief ministerial face, in a post on X, he said that “every person in Bihar has filed a nomination to become the CM, the Change Maker of Bihar.”

“Along with Tejashwi Yadav, today every person in Bihar has filed a nomination to become the CM, the Change Maker of Bihar,” he said. “The dream of taking Bihar forward is now on the threshold of becoming reality; the nomination has been filed, and the people of Bihar are set to stamp their approval for change on November 14. Today, every section of Bihar is saying that a new revolution is about to take place in Bihar.”

Yadav’s move to file his nomination papers on Wednesday comes even as the Mahagathbandhan including the RJD, Congress, Left parties and the  Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) are yet to announce a seat sharing deal.

Also read: Bihar Reloaded: Prashant Kishor’s Promises and Predicaments

While the NDA has announced its seat sharing deal, cracks have emerged in the alliance. Alliance partners have voiced their discontent over the allocation of seats.

“The JD (U) is not being run by Nitish Kumar anymore. The party is being run by three leaders Sanjay Jha (working president of the JD (U), Lallan Singh (Union Minister) and Vijay Choudhary (Bihar minister from JD(U)). These three leaders have given the JD(U) to BJP,” said Tejashwi.

Raghopur constituency in Vaishali district is considered as Lalu’s citadel. The former Bihar chief minister has won this seat in 1995 and 2000 assembly elections. In 2005 Rabri Devi was elected from the constituency. Since 2015, the seat has been held by Tejashwi.

The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.