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Tension gripped the RJD meeting after Tejashwi Yadav declined the leadership role, leaving MLAs stunned, and then Lalu Prasad rose to address the gathering
According to party insiders, Tejashwi Yadav surprised everyone by declining to take on the role of Leader of the Opposition. (PTI Photo)
After the Mahagathbandhan’s bruising loss in the recent Bihar Assembly elections, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) gathered its newly elected MLAs and defeated candidates for a closed-door review meeting on Monday, November 17. Held at Tejashwi Yadav‘s official residence on Patna’s Polo Road, the session was expected to be a routine exercise to formalise the choice of the RJD legislature party leader. Instead, it opened with an unexpected twist that briefly unsettled the room.
According to party insiders, Tejashwi Yadav, who had spearheaded the coalition’s campaign, surprised everyone by declining to take on the role of Leader of the Opposition. He reportedly told the gathering that if the mandate had not endorsed him as an alternative, it would be inappropriate for him to assume the position. His remarks, made at the very beginning of the meeting, hung heavily in the air and left several MLAs visibly anxious.
Those present said the atmosphere turned tense, with a momentary lull taking over as leaders exchanged uneasy glances. In the wake of consecutive setbacks and the coalition’s dismal performance, the refusal appeared to widen the uncertainty within the party ranks. Soon, murmurs followed, with some MLAs insisting that the RJD needed a steady hand to regroup and that Tejashwi Yadav remained the only figure capable of holding the organisation together.
Sensing the discomfort, RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav stepped in. Interrupting the drift of the discussion, he reminded the gathering that Tejashwi had kept the party’s cadre energised through a difficult campaign and that stepping back at this juncture would send a wrong signal. His intervention is learnt to have eased the tension, gradually shifting the mood of the meeting.
What followed was a round of appeals from MLAs urging Tejashwi to reconsider his decision. After a brief pause, the Tejashwi relented, agreeing to lead the legislative contingent. With that, the meeting regained its rhythm, and the party formally endorsed him as the head of its legislature party.
The meeting was reportedly attended by senior leaders including Lalu Prasad, Rabri Devi, Dr Misa Bharti, Abdulbari Siddiqui, Jagdanand Singh, Mangni Lal Mandal, Uday Narayan Chaudhary, Ranvijay Sahu and others.
Bihar, India, India
November 18, 2025, 12:58 IST
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