Tejashwi Yadav Declines Opposition Leadership After RJD's Bihar Defeat, Relents Under Lalu's Insistence

Lalu Yadav insisted that Tejashwi Yadav maintain his position as the Leader of the Opposition in Bihar Assembly despite his son's reluctance.

In Patna, Tejashwi Yadav attempted to take accountability for the Rashtriya Janata Dal's (RJD) electoral failure in Bihar by declining to continue as the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly. However, he eventually accepted the role after persistent persuasion from his father, RJD founder Lalu Prasad Yadav.

Sources reveal that during yesterday's review meeting, the 36-year-old leader expressed his desire to serve simply as an MLA, refusing the opposition leadership position. He explicitly acknowledged responsibility for the party's disappointing performance in the recent election. The RJD, previously the single-largest party in the 2020 election, saw its seat count plummet to just 25 this time—a dramatic decrease of 50 seats from their previous showing.

When Tejashwi proposed stepping down from the opposition leadership, Lalu Yadav firmly rejected the idea, insisting that his son must continue leading the party in the House, according to sources.

During the meeting, Tejashwi acknowledged his father's foundational role in creating the RJD, stating, "I am handling the party's affairs on his orders. I tried very hard in this election but was unsuccessful." Senior party figures present at the meeting expressed solidarity with the younger leader.

Notably, Tejashwi defended his close aide and RJD's Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Yadav during the discussions. Sources indicate that Sanjay Yadav has been implicated in the ongoing family conflict, with Tejashwi's sister Rohini Acharya accusing him of causing her exclusion from the family.

Tejashwi asserted in the meeting that it was incorrect to blame Sanjay Yadav for the RJD's electoral disappointment, maintaining that he bore no responsibility for the outcome.

Reports suggest that Sanjay Yadav ranks among Tejashwi Yadav's most trusted advisors and played a crucial role in the RJD's election preparations, including campaign strategy development and candidate selection. His influence is such that anyone seeking to meet Tejashwi must first go through him. Previously, Tejashwi's elder brother Tej Pratap Yadav, now estranged, complained that Sanjay Yadav prevented him from communicating with his younger sibling.

The controversy surrounding Sanjay Yadav intensified when Tejashwi's elder sister Rohini recently announced her withdrawal from politics and disassociation from her family, stating, "This is what Sanjay Yadav and Rameez had asked me to do...and I'm taking all the blame." She further alleged that Tejashwi and his aides, Sanjay Yadav and Rameez Nemat Khan, "don't want to take responsibility" following the RJD's electoral defeat.

While Tejashwi has remained silent on these family matters, Lalu Yadav reportedly stated, "This is an internal family matter and will be resolved within the family. I am there to deal with it."