The political scene in Bihar is buzzing with activity as the state gears up for assembly elections. The ‘Voter Rights Yatra,’ organized by the India alliance in opposition to the SIR, has become a platform for intriguing developments and discussions. New political alliances are being forged, seemingly disregarding previous disagreements, in preparation for the upcoming elections. A notable shift is the apparent reconciliation between Pappu Yadav, the MP from Purnia, and Tejashwi Yadav.
Whether a result of evolving times or strategic political maneuvering, Rahul Gandhi has facilitated a rapprochement between Tejashwi Yadav and Pappu Yadav. During the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the RJD declined to nominate Pappu Yadav from the Purnia constituency. Instead, the RJD presented its own candidate. Pappu Yadav, however, chose to run as an independent MP and supported the Congress, a move that has seemingly paid off.
Furthermore, during a recent protest in Patna against the Election Commission, Pappu Yadav and Kanhaiya Kumar were not permitted to accompany Rahul Gandhi. A video of Pappu Yadav’s exclusion went viral, causing him considerable public criticism. However, both the Congress and RJD have now embraced Kanhaiya and Pappu Yadav. This is substantiated by Pappu Yadav’s presence alongside Tejashwi Yadav in Rahul Gandhi’s car during the Voter Rights Yatra in Purnia, where he also gave a speech.
During the Voter Rights Yatra, Tejashwi Yadav welcomed Pappu Yadav, stating, ‘We welcome Pappu Yadav Ji to the land of Araria.’ Following this, Pappu Yadav, in his address, lauded Tejashwi as a ‘Jannayak’ (people’s leader) and his brother, emphasizing his work to eradicate fear and terror.
With the Bihar assembly elections on the horizon, Tejashwi Yadav has been designated as the CM face by the alliance. Rahul Gandhi himself has affirmed this. Rahul has played a significant role in bridging the gap between Pappu Yadav and Tejashwi, indicating that to secure the CM position, Tejashwi needs to foster unity. This approach by Rahul has evidently been accepted by Tejashwi.