Sunday marked a watershed in Bihar politics with Tejashwi Yadav’s ascension to executive president of RJD, complete with a heartfelt ritual of touching Lalu Prasad Yadav’s feet for blessings. The move signals the party’s intent to harness Tejashwi’s charisma for a robust resurgence.
Facing headwinds from governance critiques and alliance shifts, RJD bets on Tejashwi’s proven appeal among Muslims and Yadavs. His stint as opposition leader has honed his skills in parliamentary skirmishes, making him the ideal figurehead for mobilization drives.
Cadre morale soared, with leaders predicting electoral windfalls under his guidance. RJD’s X post heralded the news: ‘Tejashwi Yadav appointed Executive President – ushering in a new dawn.’
But the triumph was marred by Rohini Acharya’s savage online retort, congratulating the ‘prince puppet’ of ‘infiltrator gangs’ and lamenting her father’s era’s ‘inglorious close.’ Building on her prior exposé of party hijacking by opportunists, her words expose raw nerves in the family fiefdom.
Such intra-family sniping could erode RJD’s cohesion at a critical juncture, forcing Tejashwi to balance heritage with ambition. Stakeholders speculate on whether this will galvanize or paralyze the party.
In Bihar’s chessboard of caste and coalitions, Tejashwi’s leadership offers promise but peril. Mastering the narrative—and the family narrative—will be key to transforming RJD from underdog to contender.