Tejashwi Yadav: RJD's Youth Leader With Hopes Of Reclaiming Bihar (image-X/yadavtejashwi)
Commanding the INDIA alliance’s Lok Sabha Elections 2024 campaign in Bihar for 40 seats is Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav. Led by him, the RJD emerged as the single-largest party in the state, securing 75 of the 243 seats in the 2020 assembly elections of 2020. However, in the 2019 general elections, the NDA – comprising the BJP (17), JD(U) (16), and Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) (6) – won 39 out of the 40 seats. While the RJD failed to win any seats, Congress won a seat.
Having been unable to wield power in Bihar since 2005 except for its 17-month coalition with the JD(U) until January this year, the RJD’s win in the 18th Lok Sabha elections is crucial.
Former cricketer and deputy chief minister in the Nitish Kumar government, Tejashwi, has served as the MLA for the Raghopur assembly segment since 2015. Notably, the assembly segment was previously held by his father, Lalu Prasad Yadav (1995-2000) and mother, Rabri Devi (2000-2005).
The RJD leader has made efforts to expand his party’s base by giving non-Yadav OBC communities the opportunity to represent them in the Lok Sabha elections. While the party and its allies have given seven tickets to Kushwaha candidates, Tejashwi has stated in his speeches that the party’s priority is “MY-BAAP” which is Muslims, Yadavs, Bahujan (Dalits and other backward classes), Agda (upper castes), Aadhi Aabaadi (Women) and the Poor.
While his father and RJD supremo, Lalu Prasad Yadav, focused on the empowerment of the Yadavs, his son Tejashwi has reached out to other caste groups to bolster strength against its formidable opponent – the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
One of the obstacles in the way to victory for the RJD and Tejashwi is what is described as the “jungle raj” of Lalu Prasad Yadav during his tenure between 1990 and 2005. Many non-Yadavs fear the dominance of Yadavs if the RJD comes to power.
The 34-year-old leader is popular among the youth, especially the students. With Tejashwi consistently addressing the growing unemployment issues in the state, voters who had previously been BJP supporters have switched sides after being disappointed with the saffron party’s performance. According to an economic survey conducted in Bihar (2022-23), the unemployment rate among those aged 15-29 was 20.1%. The national average for the age group is nearly 16%.
Additionally, the issue of unemployment is applicable to all caste groups, from the backward castes of Kushwahas and Yadavs to the Dalit identities of Chamars and Paswans.
With his strong resolve to defeat the NDA and reclaim Bihar, Tejashwi stated, “My only aim is to end the dictatorship from this country, those trying to end Constitution, democracy should be stopped. All the jumlebaazi should end, and it will happen only when PM Modi loses,” as quoted by India Today.
