NEW DELHI: The absence of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi‘s picture from the poster at the Mahagathbandhan’s joint press conference in Patna has stirred controversy. The banner, which has gone viral on social media, prominently features only RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav. This press conference marks the first gathering of Mahagathbandhan leaders amid speculations over seat-sharing arrangements among the INDIA bloc constituents for the upcoming assembly polls.BJP mocks ‘Mahagathbandhan’ press conferenceThe BJP has seized the opportunity to mock the Mahagathbandhan, pointing out the absence of Rahul Gandhi’s photo from the alliance’s press meet poster in Patna. During this event, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav is expected to be named the chief ministerial candidate. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla took to X to comment, “Joint PC? But only one picture. Rahul Gandhi & Congress ka ‘samman chori’. Showed Congress & Rahul his place?”“So it’s not just “Samman” Respect chori that Congress is grappling with (Tejaswi pic on joint pc poster and rahul gandhi deleted) Now Ticket chori allegations hit Congress especially key team of Rahul Gandhi,” he added.Internal rifts out in open?Speaking about Tejashwi Yadav’s photo in the poster at the venue of Mahagathbandhan PC, Independent MP Pappu Yadav says, “Voting will be done on Rahul Gandhi’s picture only and not on anyone else’s picture… Pictures of all three leaders of the alliance should have been there. This is not right, and it will not send the right message… We can win Bihar only on the face of Rahul Gandhi. We have not other way to win here...”Congress downplays rift allegationsCongress spokesperson Pawan Khera dismissed claims of internal discord within the alliance, labeling the uproar over the poster as an “irrelevant issue.” He stated, “Let the opposition say whatever they want to say, but there was never a clash between us (Mahagathbandhan)… Is this a relevant issue? Does this issue make any sense to the youth of Bihar?” Khera emphasized that the alliance is focused on contesting elections based on issues rather than appearances.The upcoming Bihar election is set to witness a high-voltage battle between the NDA and INDIA bloc. The NDA comprises the Bharatiya Janata Party, Janata Dal (United), Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular), and Rashtriya Lok Morcha. The Mahagathbandhan, led by the Rashtriya Janata Dal, includes the Congress party, the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) (CPI-ML) led by Deepankar Bhattacharya, the Communist Party of India (CPI), the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM), and Mukesh Sahani’s Vikasheel Insaan Party (VIP).
