In a candid conversation, Tejashwi discusses Bihar’s politics, family, and future.
Patna: At the India News Manch program held in Patna under the banner of ITV Network, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav engaged in an open and candid discussion. He spoke not only about politics but also about his personal life, revealing both his political convictions and emotional side.
Tejashwi on the Bihar elections
Bihar is heading toward its Assembly elections, and all political parties have already begun preparations. Elections in Bihar are always known to be challenging and closely contested, and the 2025 Assembly polls promise to be both highly interesting and difficult. However, Tejashwi Yadav asserted that this time the election is one-sided because, according to him, people have now seen through the deception of the BJP and the NDA. He said that over the past 20 years, Bihar’s people have only been served empty promises, even under the so-called “double-engine government.” According to Yadav, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar have only misled the public, but people are now ready to break free from that illusion. He declared confidently that this time, change in Bihar is inevitable.
Public mood against NDA, says Tejashwi
Tejashwi Yadav emphasized that the public has already made up its mind. After two decades of Nitish Kumar’s governance, he said, people have received nothing but false assurances and unfulfilled promises. Bihar’s common citizens continue to suffer from migration, unemployment, poverty, and illiteracy. Yadav alleged that the NDA’s double-engine government has only been associated with loot and corruption, with crores of rupees recovered from officials’ houses, while the people’s necks are throttled. This, he warned, the public is no longer willing to endure.
Nitish and Modi copy my schemes, says Yadav
Tejashwi Yadav claimed that after losing their grip on governance, NDA leaders have become desperate and are now copying the schemes he had once proposed. Be it social security pensions, 125 units of free electricity, scholarships for students, loans for women to secure employment, or the establishment of a youth commission—he asserted that all of these were originally his promises. He accused the Nitish government of stealing his vision, but said that people know who first conceptualized and advocated for these welfare plans.
On being CM face and Congress’ silence
In recent times, questions have been raised regarding the Congress party’s stance and silence on whether Tejashwi should be projected as the Mahagathbandhan’s chief ministerial face. During Rahul Gandhi’s 16-day Voter Rights Yatra in Bihar, he remained silent on this matter. Addressing this, Tejashwi said that the Congress is a major partner in the alliance, and their struggle is not about him becoming CM but about uprooting the NDA from Bihar. He stressed that every party functions according to its own rules, and clarity on leadership will emerge at the right time.
Seat-sharing clarity in Mahagathbandhan
On the contentious issue of seat-sharing, Yadav said that everything has already been discussed and finalized—who will contest how many seats and from where. He assured that the Mahagathbandhan would soon formally announce the seat-sharing arrangement, and this time there would be no disputes that the BJP and NDA could exploit.
Tejashwi on Nitish Kumar’s condition
Speaking about Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Tejashwi Yadav expressed respect, saying he regards Kumar as an uncle figure. However, he argued that Kumar is no longer in a position to manage Bihar, pointing to both mental and physical fatigue. He added that the people of Bihar do not see their future under a weak and helpless chief minister.
Targeting Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary
On Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, Tejashwi remarked that Choudhary owes his political rise to his own family and party. However, by joining the BJP, he has absorbed its culture and now openly abuses Tejashwi’s family. According to Yadav, Choudhary’s behavior proves that he is loyal to no one.
On abuses directed at PM Modi’s mother
Tejashwi responded to the controversy over abuses hurled at Prime Minister Modi’s mother during the Voter Rights Yatra. He said no one should justify abusive language. At that particular rally, neither he nor Rahul Gandhi was present, and the individual responsible was associated with the BJP itself. He accused the BJP of exploiting even the name of Modi’s mother for politics, pointing out that BJP leaders regularly hurl abuses at his own parents and sisters, yet his party has never made it a political issue. He reminded that when BJP MLA Janak Singh abused him in the Bihar Assembly, BJP leaders stayed silent.
On BJP’s “jungle raj” narrative
Tejashwi accused the BJP of repeatedly raising the issue of “jungle raj” in every election since 2000. Whether Assembly or Lok Sabha polls, he said, the NDA has consistently used it as a strategy. However, the people of Bihar now understand that this is a hollow issue. He added that today’s crime situation in Bihar itself shows that what exists is a “maha jungle raj” under the NDA.
Attack on Amit Shah
The RJD leader also launched a sharp attack on Union Home Minister Amit Shah, accusing him of showing interest in Bihar only during elections. He said while half the state suffers from floods, Shah arrives during polls and claims that flood control work has begun, raising the question of what was done in the past 20 years. Tejashwi also alleged that central ministers hardly ever commit to new factories, colleges, or job opportunities in Bihar, because the BJP leadership is only concerned with negative politics.
On Prashant Kishor’s political entry
Tejashwi Yadav also criticized political strategist Prashant Kishor. While acknowledging that everyone has the democratic right to contest elections and form parties, he warned against working as an agent of others. He accused Amit Shah of using Kishor to create a “B Team” or “C Team” in Bihar ahead of elections. But he expressed confidence that this time, the people have already decided in favor of change.
Missing his children during elections
Opening up about his personal life, Tejashwi shared that he misses his two children—daughter Katyayani and son Iraj—during election campaigns. He said that in his free time he loves playing with them, but during elections, he sometimes goes many days without seeing them, staying connected only through video calls. He recalled how BJP leaders objected when he named his son Iraj, but after learning that the name derives from Sanskrit and means Hanuman, they fell silent.
On inter-caste and inter-religion marriages
Speaking about his own marriage, Tejashwi Yadav said that he does not believe in caste or religion as barriers. This was why he married outside his caste and faith, despite the uproar it created. He appealed to the youth of Bihar and India to follow his example and help dismantle the walls of caste and religion by creating such social change.
