Bihar Political Battle: 'Nayak' Posters of Tejashwi Yadav Trigger Fierce BJP Response Ahead of Assembly Elections

Posters depicting RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav as "Bihar ka Nayak" emerged throughout Patna, triggering political controversy

A significant political controversy erupted in Bihar on Saturday following the appearance of posters across Patna labeling Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav as "Bihar ka Nayak" (Hero of Bihar). The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) responded with fierce criticism, alleging that Tejashwi and his family are implicated in numerous corruption scandals and legal cases.

The promotional campaign surfaced merely two days after Tejashwi Yadav's official nomination as the Mahagathbandhan's Chief Ministerial candidate for the forthcoming state elections.

In response to this campaign, Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Samrat Choudhary criticized Yadav's family background, questioning, "Jiska parivar khalnayak ho, vo kaise nayak ban sakta hai? (How can someone whose family consists of villains become a hero?)"

He continued his critique, stating, "Lalu Prasad Yadav is Bihar's Gabbar Singh, an accused in multiple cases of state plunder. During Lalu's governance, he misappropriated animal fodder funds, and as Railways Minister, he orchestrated the land-for-job scam. Tejashwi should explain how he became a multi-millionaire in just eighteen months—everyone is curious."

Bihar BJP president Dilip Jaiswal also criticized the RJD, suggesting that the Opposition was resorting to publicity tactics due to a lack of substantive issues.

Referencing a popular Hindi song in his criticism, Jaiswal told IANS, "Nayak nahi, khalnayak hai ye (He is a villain, not a hero). Today, he has dropped 'Jan' and retained only 'Nayak', but soon he will add 'Khal' before it, and then I'll perform that song for you. The Opposition lacks legitimate issues to campaign on, so they're attempting to create illusions."

BJP Rajya Sabha MP Bhim Singh Chandravanshi mocked the RJD's poster initiative, commenting, "If he wishes to boast about himself, who can prevent him? It's his decision, his finances, and his posters. But how can the son of a villain be considered a hero? The people of Bihar once trusted his father, Lalu Yadav, but everyone is aware of how he exploited the state and hindered its development. The public won't be deceived again."

BJP national spokesperson Ajay Alok questioned the propriety of portraying Tejashwi Yadav as Bihar's hero.

Speaking to IANS, Alok remarked, "Bihar's standards haven't deteriorated to such levels. This is the homeland of Jai Prakash Narayan, who led a revolution that even removed Indira Gandhi from power, and of Karpoori Thakur, who transformed Bihar and advocated for social justice. And now, from this hallowed ground, the offspring of a corrupt family, who hasn't completed his 9th grade education and has contributed nothing to Bihar's advancement, is being labeled 'Bihar ka Nayak'? These individuals should feel embarrassed."