Vaishali (Bihar) [India], October 23 (ANI): Asserting that people of Lalganj are fighting for themselves, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and Lalganj constituency candidate Shivani Shukla said that she would fight for Tejashwi Yadav to make him the Chief Minister of Bihar.
Reacting to the delay in her candidature from Lalganj constituency, the RJD leader told ANI that this is not her fight; it is the people’s fight.
“This is not my fight; this is the people’s fight. The people of Lalganj are fighting for themselves… When I initially did not get the ticket, I had said that I would fight for Tejashwi because my only aim is to make him the CM. This is not my fight,” Shukla said.
Meanwhile, the Mahagathbandhan (Grand alliance) in Bihar is fully “united” and “contesting the elections with strength” after the negotiations over the allocation of seat-sharing went down the line with a few days left for the polling for 243 constituencies.
The assurance of “no rift” in the alliance came from Senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot, who, along with AICC Bihar in-charge Krishna Allavaru, met with RJD’s top leadership, Lalu Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav on Wednesday.
“Today, a highly positive meeting took place with AICC Bihar in-charge Shri Krishna Allavaru, along with Shri Lalu Prasad Yadav and Shri Tejashwi Yadav. The INDIA alliance in Bihar is fully united and is contesting the elections with strength. Tomorrow, the full situation will be clarified in the Mahagathbandhan’s press conference,” Gehlot said.
Although the issue of ‘friendly fights’ on some seats still persists, Ashok Gehlot has indicated that it is not a matter of concern.
“In 243 seats, due to local leaders and equations, a situation like a friendly fight sometimes arises on 5-7 seats. This is a very small number, but a campaign was run against the Mahagathbandhan in the media over it, whereas in reality, there is no problem at all,” he said.
Taking further steps to strengthen the alliance’s position in the election, RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav announced that Jeevika Didis, who work as community mobilisers, will be made permanent as government employees after the Mahagathbandhan forms government in Bihar.
Bihar Leader of Opposition in the legislative assembly (LoP) Tejashwi Yadav assured that the salary of Jeevika Didis will be increased to Rs 30,000 per month. He also added that the future Mahagathbandhan government will waive the interest on loans taken by Jeevika Didis and will provide them with interest-free credit for the next two years.
The assembly elections will be held in two phases on November 6 and 11. The results will be declared on November 14. The 2025 Bihar Elections will have the main contest between the National Democratic Alliance and the Mahagathbandhan. (ANI)