Rahul Gandhi is set to make his return to Bihar’s political stage with a joint rally alongside Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav on October 29, in what is being seen as the Opposition’s biggest show of unity ahead of next month’s Assembly elections.
The Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition will campaign for the first time in the state this election season, addressing two rallies, in Muzaffarpur and Darbhanga, alongside the Mahagathbandhan’s chief ministerial face, Tejashwi Yadav.
The announcement comes amid the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) questioning Gandhi’s long absence from the Bihar campaign. The two-phase elections, covering 243 Assembly seats, are scheduled for November 6 and 11, with counting set for November 14.
In the run-up to his visit, Gandhi has sharpened his attacks on the Centre, criticising the government over its handling of festive season train arrangements for migrant workers travelling home to Bihar.
“It’s the month of festivals - Diwali, Bhai Dooj, Chhath. In Bihar, these festivals mean more than just faith; they are a longing to return home--the fragrance of the soil, the love of family, the warmth of the village. But this longing has now become a struggle,” Gandhi wrote in a post on X.
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He accused the government of neglecting the plight of migrant workers, saying overcrowded trains reflected “the NDA's deceptive policies and intentions.” Gandhi pointed out that many trains were operating at nearly 200 per cent capacity, with passengers clinging to doors and rooftops.
Meanwhile, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav launched a fresh attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is scheduled to visit Bihar on October 30 to attend campaign programmes in Muzaffarpur and Chhapra.
“Look, everyone has to come for elections. What difference will merely his coming here make? Everyone knows that he (PM Modi) is coming to cheat Bihar,” Tejashwi said while addressing reporters in Patna.
The former deputy chief minister challenged Modi’s record on development and sought transparency on financial allocations to the state. “All we want to know from the Prime Minister is what you gave to Gujarat in 11 years and what you gave to Bihar — just show the accounts, that’s all we need,” he said.
BJP state president Dilip Jaiswal confirmed that Modi would attend two key programmes as part of the NDA’s campaign push.
As Bihar prepares for a fierce contest, the upcoming rally featuring Gandhi and Tejashwi is being viewed as a strategic effort by the Congress-RJD combine to consolidate anti-NDA sentiment and energise the Opposition cadre across the state.
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