AICC General Secretary and Congress party co-in-charge Shahnawaz Alam announced on Wednesday that the party envisions two deputy chief ministers, one of whom would be a Muslim, if INDIA bloc secures victory in Bihar’s upcoming assembly elections. The statement underscores Congress’s efforts to solidify its traditional support base in the state.
Alam, currently touring Bihar, informed party workers that the Congress aims to push for two deputy CMs under the INDIA bloc, led by RJD’s Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, should they form the next government, reports The New Indian Express.
“It is our commitment that if Tejashwi leads the next government, our party will have two deputy CMs – one from the Muslim community and the other from the Upper Caste (general category),” Alam declared. His remarks are seen as a strategic move to consolidate support among Muslims, Upper Castes, and Dalits – traditional Congress constituencies.
Alam’s statement came two days after he asserted that there is no concept of a ‘Bada Bhai’ (big player) or ‘Chhota Bhai’ (small player) in politics. “We must strengthen the ideological foundation of the coalition rather than focus on power hierarchies. Congress workers should not consider themselves subordinate to other partners. Alliance decisions will incorporate their inputs,” he added.
On ticket distribution for the upcoming assembly elections, Alam emphasised that the process should be guided by strike rates – a measure of party performance in recent Lok Sabha elections. The Congress, which won three of the nine seats it contested (a 33% strike rate), fared better than RJD, which secured four of 23 seats (17%). The CPI(M-L), another bloc partner, achieved the highest strike rate, winning two of three seats contested (67%).
Alam’s remarks follow RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav’s apparent support for Mamata Banerjee’s ambition to lead the INDIA bloc at the national level. However, Congress remains a key ally within the coalition, with Rahul Gandhi widely regarded as one of its foremost leaders.
