The Viral Moment at Raj Bhavan
In the high-stakes, ever-turbulent theatre of Bihar politics, a single, unguarded moment can become a powerful political weapon. This week, that moment arrived in the form of a viral video from the Raj Bhavan, which the opposition, led by a newly-embittered Tejashwi Yadav, has seized upon to launch a full-blown assault on Chief Minister Nitish Kumar‘s leadership.
The video, which tore through social media platforms, captured a perplexing moment during a cabinet expansion ceremony. As JD(U) leader Ashok Choudhary approached the dais to take his oath, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was seen turning to Governor Rajendra Arlekar and appearing to ask who the individual was. The Governor’s apparent gesture of clarification towards Choudhary has been interpreted by critics as a sign of the Chief Minister’s disorientation and lack of awareness about his own cabinet.
Tejashwi Yadav‘s Scathing “Tired CM” Attack
For Tejashwi Yadav, the recently ousted Deputy Chief Minister, this was a golden opportunity. Seizing on the clip, the RJD leader delivered a soundbite that has set the political narrative ablaze.
“What we have been saying is now being proven,” Tejashwi told reporters, his tone sharp and unequivocal. “The viral video from the Raj Bhavan shows that the Chief Minister doesn’t even know his own party’s minister. It is clear that he is tired and clearly can’t run the government.“
This statement is a calculated strike at the very core of Nitish Kumar‘s authority and fitness to govern. For weeks, the RJD has been building a narrative that Kumar is a “tired” leader propped up by the BJP. The video, in their eyes, is irrefutable proof of this claim.
A Two-Pronged Political Strategy
Political observers note that this strategy is twofold.
- Creating a Perception of Instability: By painting the Chief Minister as frail and out of touch, the RJD hopes to convince voters that the new NDA government in Bihar is rudderless. This directly counters the NDA’s campaign plank of a stable “double-engine” government.
- A Personal Counter-Narrative: The sting of betrayal from Nitish Kumar‘s sudden exit from the Mahagathbandhan is still fresh. Tejashwi is now positioning himself as the energetic and focused alternative to an ageing patriarch, amplifying whispers about the Chief Minister’s health and political grip.
NDA’s Defense Amid Viral Fallout
The JD(U) and BJP were quick to dismiss the incident as a minor, misinterpreted moment, a “non-issue” blown out of proportion by a desperate opposition. They argue that personal attacks are being used due to a lack of substantive criticism against the government’s policies.
However, in the age of viral content, perception often becomes reality. As Bihar barrels towards the crucial Lok Sabha elections, this video and Tejashwi Yadav‘s sharp-tongued response have opened a new, potent front in the battle for the state.
