Tejashwi Fires Back At Maithili Thakur's Mahabharata Analogy

RJD Leader Tejashwi Yadav on Friday sharply criticized BJP MLA Maithili Thakur for her remarks comparing his father, Lalu Prasad Yadav, to the Mahabharata character Dhritarashtra. Yadav's response came a day after Thakur's speech in the Bihar assembly, where she indirectly targeted the RJD's past governance and family dynamics. The exchange highlights ongoing political tensions between the opposition RJD and the ruling BJP-led alliance in Bihar.

In her address on Thursday, the 25-year-old singer-turned-politician Maithili Thakur, a first-time legislator from the Alinagar constituency, alluded to Bihar's pre-2005 era under RJD rule. Without naming individuals, she likened Lalu Prasad's alleged favoritism toward his younger son, Tejashwi, to Dhritarashtra's blind affection for Duryodhana in the epic. Thakur's comments were part of a broader critique of what she described as mismanagement during the RJD's tenure, which ended when the party was ousted from power in 2005.

Tejashwi Yadav, the RJD's working president and leader of the opposition, hit back via a social media post, attaching Thakur's photo for emphasis. He accused her of lacking basic knowledge of legislative processes, stating, "Some people think they have a thorough knowledge of politics as soon as they become a legislator. Without understanding even the a, b, c of legislature, they have the temerity to make snide remarks about a 'Jannayak' (people's hero)." Yadav used the term "Jannayak" to refer to his father, Lalu Prasad, a veteran politician and RJD supremo.

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Yadav further questioned Thakur's priorities, pointing out her silence on a recent rape and murder case involving a Dalit girl in her Darbhanga constituency. He sarcastically referenced the BJP's frequent "jungle raj" (lawless rule) allegations against the RJD era, while noting a theft incident reported by Thakur's mother in Madhubani district, where the BJP currently holds power. This retort aimed to underscore perceived inconsistencies in the BJP's governance narrative.

Maithili Thakur, known for her classical music career before entering politics, represents one of Bihar's youngest MLAs. Her entry into the assembly follows the BJP's strong performance in recent elections, bolstering the NDA coalition led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Tejashwi Yadav, meanwhile, has been a vocal critic of the state government since the RJD's loss in the 2025 assembly polls.

The verbal sparring reflects deeper rivalries in Bihar politics, where historical governance critiques and personal jabs often dominate discourse. As the state grapples with issues like crime and development, such exchanges could influence public perception ahead of future electoral contests.

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