The BRICS TimesBJP and Chirag Paswan criticised Tejashwi Yadav being called ‘Nayak’. Tejashwi’s elder brother, Tej Pratap Yadav, also reacted to the ‘Nayak’ label.
It is clear now that Tejashwi Yadav is the official ‘hero’ (Nayak) for the Mahagathbandhan in Bihar. The grand alliance has formally declared him as the Chief Ministerial face. However, Tejashwi is now getting many other titles on the ground. Opponents call him ‘villain’ (Khalnayak) and ‘unworthy’ (Nalayak). Meanwhile, Tejashwi Yadav strives to look like the ‘People’s Hero’ (Jannayak), going beyond just the ‘hero’ tag.
A poster appeared outside the RJD office in Patna recently. This poster described Tejashwi Yadav as Bihar’s ‘Nayak’ or hero. Immediately, both BJP and JDU launched heavy attacks against him. Tej Pratap Yadav, RJD leader and Tejashwi’s elder brother, also came forward with his reaction.
What did the RJD Say?
Senior RJD leader Abdul Bari Siddiqui responded to the controversy. He said becoming a ‘Jannayak’ will take time for Tejashwi Yadav. He also clarified that Tejashwi is indeed following the political legacy of Lalu Yadav. Siddiqui further mentioned that Tejashwi is trying hard to live up to his father’s politics.
Tej Pratap Yadav’s Reaction
Media questioned Tej Pratap Yadav about the ‘Jannayak’ tag for Rahul Gandhi. They also asked about Tejashwi Yadav being called ‘Nayak’. He stated, “Karpuri Ji, Lohia Ji, Ambedkar Ji, and Mahatma Gandhi are the true Jannayaks.” He advised those calling others ‘Jannayak’ should stop doing so. “Lalu Yadav’s shadow protects both Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi ji,” he added. He then challenged them, saying, “They should achieve something on their own merit.”
What did the BJP Say?
Bihar BJP Chief Dilip Jaiswal sharply reacted, “He is a villain, not a hero.” He argued that the opposition has absolutely no real issues to raise. He claimed that this is what happens when a party becomes issue-less. Another BJP leader commented, “Rahul Gandhi also declared himself Jannayak on his Bihar visit.” He felt Tejashwi Yadav then felt left behind. “So he called himself a Nayak,” he added. The leader said a competition is currently going on within the Mahagathbandhan. He concluded the matter by saying, “But they are all unworthy (Nalayak).”
What did Chirag Paswan Say?
Chirag Paswan also offered his sharp reaction to this developing story. He asked, “Have you grown so big that you have started calling yourself a Jannayak?” He quickly reminded Tejashwi Yadav, “You have not become the Chief Minister yet.”
It is worth noting that the people of Bihar have only considered Karpuri Thakur as their true Jannayak so far. He began much-needed land reforms across the state. Thakur helped landless people acquire land for themselves. He implemented reservations and faced massive opposition for that move. Karpuri Thakur never worked for any personal or family benefit. Despite holding high posts like Chief Minister, he did nothing for his family. Instead, he dedicated his life entirely to the poor and weak sections of society. He rose above the politics of caste; hence, all classes respected him.
Akshay Didwaniya
