Patna, Jan 25: The Rashtriya Janata Dal formally appointed Tejashwi Yadav as its working president on Sunday, marking a definitive shift in the party’s leadership hierarchy. The decision was ratified during a national executive meeting attended by party patriarch Lalu Prasad and other senior members.
The move comes as the RJD attempts to regroup following a significant defeat in the recent assembly elections. Tejashwi, the 36-year-old former deputy chief minister and current leader of the opposition, led the “Mahagathbandhan” alliance as its chief ministerial face during the campaign.
Addressing the party faithful regarding his vision for the future, Tejashwi noted that he intends to restructure the organization fundamentally. “I am thinking of revamping the party structure from the booth level,” he told workers prior to the meeting.
The appointment settles long-standing questions regarding the line of succession within the RJD. While Tejashwi’s eldest sister, Misa Bharti, was present at the meeting and was previously rumored to be interested in the role, the national executive ultimately consolidated power around Prasad’s younger son.
Internal dynamics within the family have been under scrutiny recently. Following the poll losses, his elder sister, Rohini Acharya, voiced criticism regarding the party’s direction. She mentioned that when she insisted accountability be fixed for the debacle, her concerns were met with hostility.
Furthermore, the party’s structure has seen significant changes over the past year. Tej Pratap Yadav, Tejashwi’s elder brother, was expelled from the RJD by their father last year. Tej Pratap has since launched the Janshakti Janta Dal, though the new outfit has struggled to gain political traction.
