Tejashwi Yadav Elevated to RJD Working President Role Amidst Family Discord
In a significant organizational reshuffle, Tejashwi Yadav, the son of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) patriarch Lalu Prasad Yadav, has been appointed as the national working president of the party. This development comes at a crucial juncture for the RJD, which faced a disappointing performance in last year's Bihar assembly elections, relegating it to the political margins in the state.
Internal Dissent Surfaces Hours Before Key Meeting
The announcement of Tejashwi Yadav's elevation coincided with visible signs of internal disquiet within the party ranks. Just hours before the RJD's national executive meeting in Patna on Sunday, Rohini Acharya, Lalu Prasad's daughter, launched a scathing attack on the party's current leadership through a post on social media platform X.
Acharya, who is a qualified doctor but later chose to become a homemaker and settled in Singapore with her husband, did not name any specific individuals in her post. However, she made serious allegations that the party's control had slipped into the "hands of infiltrators and conspirators" whose sole aim, she claimed, was to destroy the political ideology known as "Laluvad."
Allegations of Infiltration and Conspiracy
In her strongly-worded statement, Acharya asserted: "Today, the real command of the party – known for fighting for the rights of the downtrodden – lies in the hands of infiltrators and conspirators sent by opponents. Their sole objective is to destroy 'Laluvad'... such people seem to have succeeded to a great extent in their dirty motives."
She further criticized the party's decision-makers, suggesting they should "introspect rather than avoiding questions or creating confusion." Acharya claimed that those who speak for 'Laluism' and the party's interests face misbehavior, while individuals who think about the party's betterment encounter rude behavior from certain quarters.
Historical Context of Family Rifts
This is not the first time Acharya has raised her voice against the RJD's leadership. Following the party's poor showing in the Bihar assembly polls last year, she had announced that she was "quitting politics" and severed ties with the family. Her latest comments add to the ongoing internal debate as the RJD attempts to chart its future political course.
Acharya emphasized that anyone who selflessly struggles for the party founded by Lalu Prasad, and those who proudly carry forward his political legacy and ideology, would naturally question those responsible for the party's current state of affairs. She wrote that such individuals would raise their voices against "dubious roles" without caring about the consequences.
Political Implications for RJD's Future
The timing of these developments is particularly noteworthy as they unfolded just before a crucial organizational meeting. The appointment of Tejashwi Yadav as working president represents an attempt to consolidate leadership within the Yadav family, while the public airing of grievances by another family member highlights the complex dynamics at play within one of Bihar's most prominent political families.
As the RJD seeks to rebuild after its electoral setbacks, these internal tensions could significantly impact the party's unity and strategic direction. The contrast between formal organizational appointments and public family discord creates a challenging environment for the party as it prepares for future political battles in Bihar and beyond.
