Tejashwi Yadav appointed RJD's new national working president
What's the story
Tejashwi Yadav, the former Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar, has been appointed as the national working president of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). The announcement was made during the inaugural session of the RJD's national executive meeting in Patna. His father and party chief Lalu Prasad Yadav handed him the appointment letter in front of senior leaders.
Leadership transition
Yadav's appointment signifies generational shift in RJD
The appointment of the 36-year-old Yadav as national working president is a major leadership transition for the party. It will give him greater control over its organizational structure and day-to-day affairs. The move comes as the RJD seeks to re-strategize its approach in Bihar politics after the Legislative Assembly election in 2025. RJD could win only 25 seats, even though it had the highest vote share at 23%. The Mahagathbandhan, of which it was a part, only secured 35 seats.
Family feud
Yadav's sister criticizes appointment, hints at family rift
However, Yadav's appointment has been criticized by his sister Rohini Acharya. She took a jibe at the decision on social media, congratulating "sycophants" and an "infiltrator gang" on what she called the "coronation of a prince turned puppet." Acharya had dramatically announced a break from politics and severed ties with her maternal family after RJD's defeat in the Assembly elections in November.
Political career
Yadav's political journey and challenges ahead
Tejashwi Yadav's political journey began in 2010 under his father's mentorship. He became Bihar's youngest Deputy Chief Minister in 2015 at the age of 26. Despite leading the RJD to become the single-largest party in the 2020 state elections, he could not replicate the success in 2025, where rivals BJP and JDU emerged stronger with 89 and 85 seats respectively.