Tejashwi Yadav Launches Bihar Adhikar Yatra Against Nitish Kumar
RJD leader launches campaign with five rallies in Bihar.
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav ignited the political landscape on Monday, launching his ambitious 'Bihar Adhikar Yatra' with a whirlwind of five rallies across Patna, Jehanabad, and Nalanda districts. The 35-year-old opposition leader, determined to unseat Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in the upcoming assembly elections, took the fight to Kumar’s home turf in Nalanda, addressing massive crowds in a high-energy campaign blitz.
Originally planned to kick off in Jehanabad, about 30 km from Patna, Yadav began the yatra with a rally in Masaurhi on Patna’s outskirts, followed by stops in Fatuha (Patna), Islampur and Hilsa (Nalanda), and Jehanabad’s eponymous assembly constituency. The marathon schedule echoed his intense campaign during last year’s Lok Sabha elections, where he addressed over 200 meetings across Bihar’s 40 parliamentary seats.
Speaking to PTI Video on the sidelines, Yadav highlighted the public’s frustration with Kumar’s long tenure. “Crowds everywhere are chanting, ‘2005 to 2025, enough of Nitish!’” he declared, mocking Kumar’s recent pledge to remain a steadfast BJP ally. Yadav, who served two brief stints as deputy CM under Kumar, quipped, “Nitish ji keeps repeating himself, showing he’s lost his grip.” He suggested that Kumar’s son, Nishant, entering politics could save Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) from being “hijacked” by the BJP, given their shared socialist roots.
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Yadav also addressed a poster by Union Minister Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), projecting Paswan as the NDA’s chief ministerial candidate. With a playful jab, Yadav said, “If Chirag wants to be CM, he should say it boldly. But I’m more worried about his single status—I’m a father of two, younger than him, and I’m waiting for his wedding procession!” Despite the humor, Yadav emphasized their cordial bond, calling Paswan a “big brother.”
Countering the NDA’s narrative of “jungle raj” under past RJD rule, Yadav pointed to recent incidents under the current regime. “Just yesterday, I ensured a case was filed against a BJP minister for assaulting a journalist. Liquor worth thousands of liters vanished despite prohibition, and hospital patients have been maimed with no accountability. Is this not jungle raj?” he asked. Yadav vowed that, if elected, he would enforce discipline and end the culture of impunity.
The RJD leader’s yatra, aimed at rallying support for Bihar’s “rights,” has struck a chord with crowds chanting anti-Nitish slogans. According to RJD sources, this first leg of the yatra will conclude on September 20 and is expected to resume after the Durga Puja festivities. With the assembly polls looming, Yadav’s aggressive campaign signals a fierce battle against Kumar’s JD(U)-BJP alliance, as he seeks to capitalize on public discontent and position the RJD as a force for change.
As Bihar braces for a heated electoral showdown, Yadav’s yatra underscores his determination to challenge the status quo and restore accountability. The coming weeks will reveal whether his fiery rhetoric and relentless campaigning can sway voters in a state long dominated by Nitish Kumar’s rule.
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