Patna (Bihar) [India], June 26 : Jan Suraaj Party Chief Prashant Kishor criticised former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav, questioning his political credentials and claiming that he owes his position entirely to his father, Lalu Prasad Yadav.
In an exclusive interview with ANI, Kishor said that Tejashwi Yadav lacks an independent political identity and credibility. He further emphasised that without his father's name, Tejashwi would have no significant identity.
"Tejashwi Yadav is Lalu Yadav's son. Whatever Tejashwi is, it's because of Lalu Yadav. If Lalu Yadav's name is not there, what is his identity for you?" he asked, taking a dig at Tejashwi.
Kishor argued that Tejashwi's position is solely due to his lineage, not his achievements or merit. He pointed out that there are many youth leaders in the Yadav Samaj who have more potential than Tejashwi.
"You said Tejashwi Yadav is a youth leader. There are a lot of youth leaders. Yadav Samaj has a lot more youth leaders than him. But the foundation on which he is now is not there because he has achieved something. He's in position only because he's Lalu Yadav's son."
Kishor highlighted that RJD supremo Lalu Yadav's popularity has significantly decreased over the years. He won the election only once in 1995 on his own, and his MP count has been declining since then.
"Lalu Yadav won the election only once in 1995 on his own. And he won when he was seen as the leader of the poor. After that, when he became the leader of the backwards, his MP count decreased to 20-25. When he became the leader of Yadav, it decreased to 10-12. Now he is the leader of RJD Yadav, so his count is 2-4-5," Kishor told ANI.
Kishor, who has been tirelessly walking through Bihar's hinterlands as part of his ambitious outreach, challenged Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi, questioning his commitment to Bihar and accusing him of token gestures rather than genuine political engagement.
He challenged Rahul Gandhi to spend at least one night in a Bihari village to prove his connection to the state's grassroots
"Rahul ji keeps coming and going here, but doesn't really undertake any Yatra. If Rahul Gandhi has ever spent even one night in a village in Bihar, let us know. If he can spend just one night in a village, we'll accept it," he said.
"Tum Delhi mein bethkar Bihariyo ke naam par haste ho aur yaha bethkar gyan dete ho (You sit in Delhi, laugh at Biharis then come here to lecture us)" Kishor said.
His remarks came after political heat intensified in Bihar ahead of the forthcoming Assembly Polls.
In the current Bihar Assembly of 243 members, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) consists of 131 with the BJP having 80 MLAs, JD(U)-45, HAM(S)-4, with the support of 2 Independent Candidates.
The Opposition's INDIA Bloc has a strength of 111 members with RJD leading with 77 MLAs, Congress-19, CPI(ML)-11, CPI(M)-2 and CPI-2.