Tejashwi Yadav Wanted to Quit as Opposition Leader? Sources say Lalu Prasad Intervened

After the Rashtriya Janata Dal’s (RJD) dismal performance in the recent Bihar assembly elections, Party Leader Tejashwi Yadav offered to resign as Leader of the Opposition — a move that sent shockwaves through the party’s ranks. Sources familiar with the matter revealed that the 36-year-old leader took full responsibility for the RJD’s poor showing, expressing a desire to work simply as an MLA. However, his father and RJD founder, Lalu Prasad Yadav, firmly refused to let him step aside, insisting that he continue to lead the opposition in the Bihar Legislative Assembly.

The RJD, which had emerged as the single-largest party in the 2020 election with 75 seats, suffered a major setback this time, managing only 25 seats — a loss of 50 constituencies. During a closed-door review meeting, Tejashwi reportedly told party leaders that the responsibility for the rout was his alone. Despite his self-blame, senior members of the party stood behind him and expressed full confidence in his leadership, echoing Lalu Prasad’s stand that Tejashwi must continue to spearhead RJD both inside and outside the Assembly.

Tejashwi also defended his close aide and Rajya Sabha MP, Sanjay Yadav, who has recently become a target of criticism both within political circles and from members of the Yadav family. Rejecting allegations that Sanjay played a role in the party’s electoral collapse, Tejashwi said blaming him was “completely unfair” and emphasized that the campaign’s failures were collective, not individual. Sanjay Yadav, known for his strategic influence over party operations, had overseen campaign planning and candidate selection, making him one of Tejashwi’s most trusted confidants.

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The internal strain within the Yadav family has further deepened following public remarks by Tejashwi’s sister, Rohini Acharya. She recently announced she would “quit politics and disown the family,” accusing Sanjay Yadav and another aide, Rameez Nemat Khan, of manipulating family dynamics. These tensions have sparked widespread speculation about fractures within the influential political family, though Lalu Prasad has dismissed the matter as internal, assuring that it will be “resolved within the family.”

Despite the turbulence, the father-son duo’s public show of unity is seen as an attempt to keep the RJD’s base from fragmenting. Party insiders indicate that Lalu Prasad’s firm hand and Tejashwi’s continued leadership could be key to rebuilding the RJD’s credibility after a bruising electoral defeat that has shaken its political core.

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