Grand Alliance Releases Bihar Manifesto, Images Speak Louder Than Words

Grand Alliance’s Bihar Manifesto Release Highlights Power Play Between RJD and Congress.

The Grand Alliance (Mahagathbandhan) may have gained an early advantage over the NDA by unveiling its Bihar election manifesto first, but the imagery on the document has sparked a fresh round of political jibes. The cover prominently features Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav, while Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s image appears much smaller in a corner — a visual cue that has reignited talk about the Congress’s secondary role in the alliance.

This isn’t the first time such optics have drawn attention. When Tejashwi Yadav was announced as the Grand Alliance’s chief ministerial face, Rahul Gandhi’s absence from posters prompted BJP taunts over the Congress’s “diminished relevance.”

“Joint press conference but only one picture. Rahul Gandhi and Congress ka ‘samman chori’ — RJD showed Congress its place,” BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla had mocked on social media, accusing RJD of sidelining its national ally and pressuring it to accept Yadav’s leadership.

The alliance’s internal tensions are further reflected in the ongoing seat-sharing impasse. With both RJD and Congress fielding candidates independently in several constituencies, the rift appears far from resolved.

The Congress, however, has dismissed the controversy. Party spokesperson Pawan Khera said that since Rahul Gandhi is not the chief ministerial candidate, his limited presence on campaign materials is “irrelevant.” He added that “poster politics” holds little significance for Bihar’s youth voters.

Tejashwi Yadav also downplayed the reported disagreements, saying “friendly contests” in select constituencies were strategic, not signs of division.

While the manifesto launch marks the Grand Alliance’s formal start to its campaign, the optics surrounding it once again expose the fragile balance between Bihar’s dominant regional force, the RJD, and its national partner, the Congress.