Tejashwi Yadav Elevated as RJD Working President: Navigating Challenges and Family Dynamics
In a significant organizational reshuffle, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has appointed Tejashwi Prasad Yadav as its national working president, marking his formal elevation to the party's second-most powerful position after his father and party chief Lalu Prasad. This decision comes barely two months after the RJD's disappointing performance in the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections, where its seat tally plummeted from 80 in 2020 to just 25 seats.
Unanimous Decision and New Responsibilities
The appointment was made unanimously during a meeting of the RJD's national executive committee in Patna, attended by senior leaders including former Chief Minister Rabri Devi and Pataliputra MP Misa Bharati. The proposal to elevate Tejashwi was moved by Lalu's trusted aide Bhola Yadav and was accepted without any objections.
At 36 years old, this marks the first time Tejashwi has been assigned a formal organizational role since entering politics nearly 15 years ago. While he will continue serving as the Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Assembly, his new position places him at the helm of party affairs as Lalu Prasad remains largely inactive due to health reasons.
Accepting the responsibility, Tejashwi expressed being "overwhelmed" by the confidence reposed in him. "I have been in politics for close to 15 years, but I have not held any organizational role so far. I will try to live up to the onerous responsibility that has been given to me," he stated during the meeting.
Immediate Challenges for the New Working President
Tejashwi Yadav faces three critical challenges in his new role:
- Rebuilding Party Morale and Structure: Following the RJD's worst Assembly performance in over a decade, Tejashwi must revitalize a demoralized party cadre. He announced plans to tour all Bihar districts after the Budget session begins on February 2, meeting with party leaders and unsuccessful candidates to "listen" to their concerns.
- Maintaining Alliance Cohesion: The new working president must keep the Mahagathbandhan intact amid visible unease within the Congress, the RJD's principal ally. Senior Bihar Congress leader Shakil Ahmad Khan has openly urged his party to sever ties with the RJD, arguing that the alliance has constrained Congress's growth in the state.
- Strategic Reorientation: Tejashwi needs to recast the RJD's political narrative against the Nitish Kumar-led government. The party's previous strategy of portraying Nitish Kumar as losing administrative control failed to gain traction in the recent elections, requiring a more compelling political pitch.
Additionally, Tejashwi faces the task of shedding the RJD's long-standing "M-Y (Muslim-Yadav)" tag and projecting a more inclusive political brand that accommodates Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs) and Scheduled Castes alongside its core Yadav support base.
Family Dynamics and Internal Dissent
The elevation has also highlighted ongoing family fissures within the RJD leadership. Rohini Acharya, Lalu's second daughter, publicly criticized her brother's appointment in a social media post, describing it as "the drawing of curtains on the glorious innings of a towering man of politics" and alleging Tejashwi would function as a "puppet in the hands of sycophants and conspirators."
In contrast, Misa Bharati sought to downplay the family discord, stating she hadn't read Rohini's comments and wishing Tejashwi success in his new role. "It is good that the party now has both a national president and a national working president. Tejashwi will work with renewed vigour to strengthen the party," she remarked.
Lalu Prasad appealed to party leaders to support his younger son, acknowledging Tejashwi's hard work and thanking members for their backing. As Tejashwi assumes this crucial organizational position, his ability to navigate these complex challenges while managing internal family dynamics will determine his effectiveness in steering the RJD toward political recovery.
