The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has launched a scathing attack on Bihar’s Mahagathbandhan, with senior leader Ravi Shankar Prasad mockingly questioning the alliance’s strength and unity after Rahul Gandhi’s photograph was omitted from event posters. Prasad declared the opposition coalition ‘very weak,’ citing the conspicuous absence of Gandhi’s image at a press conference in Patna, while all other party symbols were displayed prominently.
Prasad detailed the perceived internal conflicts, pointing to the unusual situation where the alliance is reportedly contesting 255 seats in a 243-seat assembly, including instances of friendly contests between alliance partners. He asserted that such anomalies underline the fragility of the Mahagathbandhan. Furthermore, he issued a stern warning to the people of Bihar, stating that electing the RJD would lead to a life filled with hardship and corruption. Prasad referenced the past convictions of Lalu Prasad Yadav in the fodder scam and the ongoing legal issues involving Tejashwi Yadav, urging voters to be wary of their promises.
Adding to the critique, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala suggested that the RJD might consider Rahul Gandhi a ‘liability,’ questioning the alliance’s ‘mission or vision’ and characterizing it as a platform for ‘division and confusion.’ The visuals at the press conference, featuring Tejashwi Yadav prominently but excluding Gandhi, were seen as a significant indicator of the Congress’s diminished role. The upcoming Bihar assembly elections are anticipated to be a major contest between the NDA and the Mahagathbandhan, with polling dates set for November 6 and 11.