Patna (Bihar) [India], October 28 : Janshakti Janata Dal (JJD) chief Tej Pratap Yadav on Tuesday hit out at Congress and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) for referring to Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav, respectively, as "Jan Nayaks". He said that both leaders were being mentored by his father and former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, and not him.
Speaking to reporters, Tej Pratap argued that personalities like Karpoori Thakur and Dr Ambedkar were "Jan Nayaks," and that those who label themselves the same shouldn't do so.
"Karpoori ji, Lohia ji, Ambedkar, and Mahatma Gandhi are 'jannayaks'. What does the public want? Those who call themselves 'jannayaks' should not do so. Lalu ji indeed was one, but he provides guidance to Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi ji. I do not have that guidance. I have the guidance of Bihar's poor and youth. I am going ahead with that. I will show results by working on my own," Tej Pratap said.
Tej Pratap, who was expelled from both the RJD and the family, is contesting the upcoming Bihar assembly elections from the Mahua assembly constituency. He is competing directly with RJD candidate and sitting MLA Mukesh Roshan.
Meanwhile, Tejashwi Yadav today demanded that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) reveal their Chief Ministerial candidate for the Bihar assembly elections, while highlighting the release of their manifesto named 'Tejashwi Pran Patra'.
"We have announced the CM's face as well. Today, we are going to release the 'Tejashwi Pran Patra' on how we are going to work for the next 5 years. We want NDA to announce the name of their CM. What schemes do they have? What is their vision, and how are they going to take Bihar forward? We have given a roadmap, a vision, and we are clear that we will make Bihar number one. They only speak negative things and make allegations about our leaders," Tejashwi Yadav told reporters.
Tejashwi has been named as the Mahagathbandhan Chief Ministerial face, while Mukesh Sahani, who heads the Vikasheel Insaan Pary (VIP), has been named as the Deputy CM candidate.
The 2025 Bihar Elections will see a contest between the National Democratic Alliance and the Mahagathbandhan. The NDA comprises the Bharatiya Janata Party, Janata Dal (United), Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular), and Rashtriya Lok Morcha.
Mahagathbandhan, led by RJD, includes Congress party, the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) (CPI-ML) led by Deepankar Bhattacharya, the Communist Party of India (CPI), the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM), and Mukesh Sahani's VIP.
Additionally, Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj has also staked claims on all 243 seats of the state.
The assembly elections in Bihar are scheduled to be held on November 6 and 11, respectively, while the results will be declared on November 14.