In the hushed, grief-stricken corridors of 10, Circular Road, Patna, a political drama of Shakespearean proportions unfolded. Fresh off a humiliating defeat in the Lok Sabha elections, where the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) failed to win a single seat, a dejected Tejashwi Yadav had made a decision. He would not take up the post of the Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Assembly, seeking to take moral responsibility for the rout.
But in the world of the RJD, there is only one high command, one final word. And that word came from a hospital bed in Ranchi.
Tejashwi’s Offer to Resign: A Matter of Moral Responsibility
Sources deep within the RJD, speaking on the condition of anonymity, confirmed that it was party supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav who overruled his son’s decision. From his incarceration, the old warhorse of Indian politics stepped in, insisting that Tejashwi not only continue in his role but lead the party’s fightback from the front.
For Tejashwi, the refusal was a matter of principle. As the face of the Mahagathbandhan’s campaign in Bihar, the ‘zero’ on the scoreboard was a deeply personal and political blow. He argued that after such a catastrophic performance, it was untenable for him to carry on as the legislative leader. Stepping down, in his view, was the only honourable path—a way to signal to the party cadre that accountability starts at the top. It was a move perhaps designed to carve out his own political identity, one based on accountability and distinct from his father’s old-school politics.
Lalu’s Intervention: The View from Ranchi
But Lalu, the master political strategist, saw things very differently. For him, abdicating the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) post was not a sign of accountability; it was a sign of surrender. The LoP is not just a title; it is a cabinet-rank position, a platform, and a crucial institutional tool to keep the ruling NDA government in check.
To give it up would be to render the RJD voiceless in the assembly, ceding crucial political space to Nitish Kumar and the BJP when the party was at its most vulnerable.
The Political Calculus: Why the LoP Role is Non-Negotiable
Lalu’s insistence was rooted in cold, hard political calculus. He understands that in politics, perception is reality. A leaderless, demoralised opposition would be quickly forgotten. He needed his son, the declared heir, to be seen, to be heard, and to be fighting.
Retreating from the battlefield now, he reasoned, would be a fatal error ahead of the 2025 Assembly elections. The message from Ranchi was clear: You don’t quit during a storm; you learn to navigate the ship.
A Generational Divide and the Path Forward
This father-son tug-of-war reveals a fundamental schism within the RJD. On one side is Tejashwi, representing a newer generation that values modern political optics and moral posturing. On the other is Lalu, a veteran for whom power, position, and political relevance are paramount, to be held onto at all costs.
Ultimately, the patriarch’s will prevailed. Tejashwi Yadav continues as the Leader of the Opposition. He accepted the role, but the initial reluctance speaks volumes. It signals a young leader grappling with the weight of a legacy and the sting of failure. Now, he faces the Herculean task of rebuilding a shattered party and preparing for a face-off with a triumphant NDA. The battle for Bihar has just begun, and its reluctant general has been pushed back to the front lines by his own king.
