Patna: After weeks of suspense and whispered family huddles, the Rashtriya Janata Dal finally has its undisputed commander.
In a closed-door meeting at Rabri Devi’s official residence on Sunday evening, Tejashwi Yadav bowed to father Lalu Prasad’s emotional persuasion and agreed to take full charge as leader of the opposition and, effectively, the party’s face.
Sources present at the marathon four-hour session revealed that Lalu, despite frail health, turned unusually sentimental. “I have fought enough battles; now it’s your time to carry the lantern forward,” the RJD supremo is said to have told his younger son, even shedding tears while reminding him of the sacrifices made by the family.
An initially reluctant Tejashwi finally relented when Lalu declared that only he possessed the mass connectivity required to challenge Nitish Kumar head-on.
The meeting, attended by senior leaders including Jagadanand Singh and Shyam Rajak, also saw Lalu announce that all future decisions on tickets and strategy would be taken under Tejashwi’s leadership. As news spread, party workers erupted in celebration outside 10 Circular Road, chanting “Tejashwi Lao, Bihar Bachao”.
With the Mahagathbandhan already in tatters after the poor show in recent assembly elections, Tejashwi’s anointment is being considered RJD’s first step towards reclaiming lost ground in the caste-ridden battlefield of Bihar.