Congress defends timing of Bihar CM face announcement, challenges NDA to name its candidate

The party pointed out that the NDA has still not named its own candidate.

Speaking to NDTV, senior Congress leader Pawan Khera, who was present at the morning press conference in Patna where Yadav was announced as the alliance’s Chief Ministerial face, challenged the NDA to reveal its pick.

Referring to BJP’s top strategist Amit Shah’s recent statement that the MLAs would decide the Chief Minister, Khera said, “In the next 24, 48, 72 hours, the Prime Minister and Amit Shah are both going to be in Bihar. Why don’t you announce that Nitish Kumar will be your Chief Ministerial candidate?”

“We have announced ours. Now the ball is in their court. The people of Bihar need to know. It is their right to know,” he added.

Khera dismissed suggestions of a delay, stressing that political decisions are guided by timing. “In politics, there is a right time for everything. I don’t think there was any delay. Politics is all about timing,” he said.

Asked about Rahul Gandhi’s absence at the announcement, Khera clarified that Gandhi’s presence was not required since he was not the candidate.

“All of us were there, and this was about announcing the Chief Ministerial face. Therefore, the backdrop had only one face -Tejashwi Yadav-along with all our party symbols,” he told NDTV.

The Congress had declared the CM face after what was perceived as a delay, seen by some as a pressure tactic on the Rashtriya Janata Dal.

Both parties had earlier announced candidates independently, leading to “friendly contests” in around a dozen seats.

When asked about this, Khera said it was a calculated move based on local dynamics. “These decisions are taken with clear analysis of what equations are working in which seat. That’s how these decisions are made,” he told NDTV.

Pointing out that such arrangements are not new, he added, “It has happened in several states where we have gone on to form the government.”