Sasaram: Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi assured Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav of his leadership role in Bihar during the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra.
Joining Mr. Gandhi for the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, which has so far spent five days in the state in two phases, was the former deputy chief minister of Bihar.
On Thursday, Mr. Yadav spent the night in Sasaram, the district headquarters of Rohtas, before departing with Mr. Gandhi for a roadshow in a red car. Following a hearty embrace, Mr. Gandhi motioned for Mr. Yadav to take the steering wheel.
सासाराम, #बिहार से भारत जोड़ो न्याय यात्रा की आज की शुरुआत @RahulGandhi pic.twitter.com/2EFQnuEmRg
— Tejashwi Yadav (@yadavtejashwi) February 16, 2024
The two leaders engaged in regular interactions with farmers as part of the ‘Kisan Mahapanchayat’ Yatra.
While Mr. Gandhi concentrated on criticizing the Modi administration, Mr. Yadav focused his criticism on Nitish Kumar, the Chief Minister of Bihar, who abruptly joined the NDA again and removed Mr. Yadav from office.
Shouts of “Palturam (Mr. turncoat)” came from the crowds when Mr Yadav referred to the JD(U) president’s exit from the “Mahagathbandhan”, despite the “sacrifice” made by the numerically stronger RJD in accepting him as chief minister.
“When I first promised 10 lakh jobs, he used to mock at me and ask if I would use my father’s money (baap ka paisa) to pay salaries. But we made the tired (thake hue) chief minister take significant steps towards job creation,” said Mr Yadav, referring to the nearly 17-month period he shared power with the JD(U) president.
“I don’t want to use colorful epithets against him like you people are doing,” said Mr Yadav, who is admired by his detractors for his correct behaviour.
“But, of course, Nitish ji is answerable to the people, who want to know under what circumstances he chose to realign with the BJP, despite saying in the past that he would prefer to be consigned to dust (mitti mein mil jayenge) and accept death (mar jaana qabool hai) rather than going back to the NDA,” said the RJD leader.
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