Amid an unresolved seat-sharing dispute within the Mahagathbandhan, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav declared that his party is prepared to contest all 243 assembly constituencies in Bihar,
setting the stage ahead of the state elections.
Addressing a large rally of party workers in Muzaffarpur’s Kanti on Sunday, the Leader of Opposition accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of failing Bihar and recounted the political legacy of his father and RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav.
“We will return. Remember this—Tejashwi will be on the field for all 243 seats.” He specifically named constituencies like Muzaffarpur, Bochahan, Gaighat, and Kanti, urging cadres to prepare for a statewide contest.
Yadav, who recently joined Rahul Gandhi’s Voter Adhikar Yatra, also charged the BJP with attempting to curtail people’s voting rights.
In the 2020 assembly elections, RJD fought 144 seats as part of the opposition alliance and won 75, emerging as the single-largest party.
Congress, then given 70 constituencies, managed to win only 19 but is projecting greater strength this time, arguing that Gandhi’s campaign and the “vote theft” narrative have resonated with voters.
Yadav’s remarks are being read as more than just motivational.
His reference to Muzaffarpur—currently held by a Congress legislator—has been interpreted as a signal to allies that the RJD will not hesitate to press its claim over contested seats.
The statement also carries weight in the leadership debate.
When asked recently about the Mahagathbandhan’s chief ministerial face, Rahul Gandhi had sidestepped the question. Yadav’s assertion is now seen as a move to reinforce his position as the coalition’s de facto contender for the top job.
Alliance partners, including Congress, Left parties, VIP, JMM, and the LJP (Paras faction), remain locked in difficult negotiations over seat distribution.
Analysts view Yadav’s “all-243” pitch both as leverage in those talks and as a strategy to energise his party’s rank and file before a crucial electoral battle.
