Patna (Bihar) [India], October 23 (ANI): Taking a sharp jibe at Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for breaking the party and poaching their MLAs, Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) convenor Mukesh Sahani on Thursday asserted that the opposition Mahagathbandhan has pledged with Ganga jal that 'they would not leave BJP until they break them'.

The Vikassheel Insaan Party leader said that his party would stand strong with the Mahagathbandhan and would work to form a government.

Addressing the Mahagathbandhan's joint press conference, the VIP Chief said, 'I was awaiting this moment for 3.5 years. The moment has now come. Not just VIP or Mukesh Sahani, lakhs of people of the party were waiting for this. BJP broke our party and poached our MLAs...At that time, we had pledged with Ganga jal in our hands - 'BJP ko jab tak hum todenge nahi, tab tak chhoddenge nahi'...The time has come. Standing strong with Mahagathbandhan, we will form our government in Bihar and oust the BJP from the state. Mahagathbandhan is united and strong. In the time to come, we will work and form our Government.'

Sahani, who heads the Vikasheel Insaan Pary, has been named as the Deputy CM nominee from the Mahagathbandhan.

Meanwhile, after being declared as the Chief Ministerial candidate for the upcoming assembly elections, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav said that the alliance partners have come together for the advancement of Bihar. He asserted that the opposition Mahagathbandhan together will throw out the 'useless' 20-year-old double-engine government in the state.

'We, the people of Mahagathbandhan, do not just want to form the government or become the CM, but we want to make Bihar, which is why we are together. I thank all the members of the Mahagathbandhan for showing trust in me. I want to assure all of them that I will do everything possible to meet your expectations. Together, we will throw the useless 20-year-old double-engine government, where one engine is corrupt. The other is criminal,' Yadav, who is currently the Bihar Leader of Opposition (LoP), said while addressing a press conference here.

Meanwhile, asserting the 'united' aspect of the INDIA alliance, Bihar Congress President Rajesh Ram also said that the foundation stone of the INDIA alliance was laid when Rahul Gandhi, along with all alliance members, undertook the 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' for almost 17 months.

'I extend my best wishes for the upcoming Chhath Puja. Today, the INDIA alliance is united and present in front of the media. The foundation stone of the INDIA alliance was laid when Rahul Gandhi, along with all the members of the INDIA alliance, did the Voter Adhikar Yatra for almost 17 months on the issues of SIR and others,' Rajesh Ram said.

Speaking at the Mahagathbandhan's joint press conference, CPI(ML) leader Dipankar Bhattacharya too asserted unity in the alliances and said that the Mahagathbandhan will fight to win the election.

'The people of Bihar have been waiting for the elections for a long time. This election is for the youth, farmers, women, and the poor... We want to assure the people that Bihar is ready... This Mahagathbandhan will fight unitedly to win the election...' the CPI(ML) leader said.

The 2025 Bihar elections will have the main contest between the National Democratic Alliance and the Mahagathbandhan.

NDA includes the Bharatiya Janata Party, Janata Dal (United), Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) and Rashtriya Lok Morcha.

Mahagathbandhan, led by Rashtriya Janata Dal, includes 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).

Additionally, Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj has also staked claims on all 243 seats of the state.

The assembly elections will be held in two phases on November 6 and 11. The results will be declared on November 14. (ANI)