Grand alliance will decide CM candidate based on consensus: RLSP leader

RLSP National President Upendra Kushwaha has claimed that a consensus will be built before choosing a CM candidate in Bihar. In the 2015 Assembly elections, the RJD had emerged as the single largest party winning 80 seats, the JD(U) 71 and the BJP 53. The Congress bagged 27 seats in the 243-seat Bihar Assembly.

Patna: Upendra Kushwaha, former MoS in HRD ministry and Rashtrya Lok Samta party (RLSP) president has claimed that 'Mahagathbandhan' or the Grand Alliance will choose its chief ministerial candidate unanimously for the next assembly elections.

Speaking to ETV Bharat, RLSP leader said that decision regarding seat sharing and chief ministerial candidate for the upcoming state elections will be decided after deliberation within the alliance partners.

"Grand Alliance will decide on seat sharing agreement following discussion with all its members," he said.

"Every party likes to see their leader being the face of grand alliance. Personal opinions defer however, consensus will be build before choosing the CM candidate," he added.

In the Mahagathbandhan meeting held in Patna, parties like Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RSLP), Vikassheel Insan Party (VIP) involved in the grand alliance made no remarks on whether Tejashwi will be considered as the CM candidate or not.

While the main contest is set to be between the BJP-JD(U) and RJD-Congress-led Grand Alliance or Mahagathbandhan, smaller regional parties are also looking to grab voters’ attention in the state where assembly elections are due next year.

In the 2015 Assembly elections, the RJD had emerged as the single largest party winning 80 seats, the JD(U) 71 and the BJP 53.

The Congress bagged 27 seats in the 243-seat Bihar Assembly.

However, Nitish who was then part of the Mahagathbandhan formed the government with RJD. Later he opted out of the alliance in 2017 to join hands with the BJP within 24 hours of resigning from the CM’s post.

Read: Who will be the next CM of Bihar?