Patna|18th November 25:
In the wake of a Tejashwi Yadav Refuses as LOP Role After RJD Supremo,Lalu Prasad Yadav Insists He Stays On. setback for the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) in the Bihar Legislative Assembly elections, party leader Tejashwi Yadav took the unusual step of offering to relinquish the post of Leader of the Opposition, only to be over-ruled by his father and party founder, Lalu Prasad Yadav, who insisted he continues.
At a review meeting convened in Patna, sources say, the 36-year-old Tejashwi told senior leaders that he felt responsible for the party’s poor performance, stating that he wished to serve simply as an MLA rather than assume the formal opposition leadership role. The RJD, which had been the single-largest party in the previous (2020) election, secured only 25 seats this time — a fall of approximately 50 seats.
Despite Tejashwi’s offer, Lalu Prasad Yadav reportedly intervened and instructed him to remain as the House leader for the party. “I am handling the party’s affairs on his orders. I tried very hard in this election but was unsuccessful,” Tejashwi remarked about his own campaign and role.
Defence of Aide and Internal Family Rift.
At the same meeting, Tejashwi publicly defended one of his close aides, Sanjay Yadav, who has become a focal point of internal party and family controversy. While Sanjay Yadav is credited with key responsibilities during the election — including candidate selection and campaign strategy — he has also been implicated by Tejashwi’s sister, Rohini Acharya, who alleged that he and another aide asked her to leave politics and “disown” the family. She claimed, “This is what Sanjay Yadav … asked me to do … and I’m taking all the blame.”
Tejashwi emphasised that it was “wrong to target Sanjay Yadav for the RJD’s poor show,” clarifying that his aide was not responsible for the electoral failure. Meanwhile, Lalu Prasad Yadav described the internal dispute as an “internal family matter” that will be settled privately.
Implications for RJD and Bihar Political Landscape.
The RJD’s sharp seat loss in the state assembly has triggered introspection within the party. Tejashwi’s willingness to step aside from a high-profile opposition role suggests not only personal accountability but also signals leadership pressure in the aftermath of the election debacle. Stationing Tejashwi as the party’s face in the legislature, as insisted by Lalu, suggests an ongoing strategy to retain continuity of leadership despite the setback.
With the RJD reduced to 25 seats and its strength significantly eroded compared to 2020, the party’s status in the Bihar assembly has shifted. The new dynamics could reshape its bargaining power, strategy for revival, and internal cohesion in the months ahead.
