Tejashwi Yadav coming out of his father’s shadow, gradually
Bihar Deputy CM is making a serious attempt to create his own identity and, at the same time, ensure that his core vote bank of Yadavs and Muslims remains intact.
Taking a cue from Akhilesh Yadav, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Lalu Prasad Yadav’s son and Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav is gradually coming out of his father’s shadow and carving out his own space in Bihar politics. Though it is only a little more than one year that he won his first election in 2015, sources said, Te- jashwi is definitely making a serious attempt to create his own identity, which is different from his father’s, while at the same time, he is trying to ensure that his core vote bank — Yadavs and Muslims — remains intact.
Lalu, according to party insiders, has made it amply clear that Tejashwi would be his successor in future and that was the reason he was given the post of Deputy CM, while Lalu’s elder son Tej Pratap Yadav was made a Cabinet Minister. His daughter Misa Bharti was sent to the Rajya Sabha, thereby making the succession plan clear.
Tejashwi had a big say in the selection of candidates during the Assembly elections of 2015.
“Tejashwi is fully aware of the fact that caste politics, which Lalu nurtured during his peak, is not going to pay dividends anymore. The gen- eration has changed, so have people’s aspirations. People want delivery. Therefore, he is crafting his image carefully so that he is identified as a man of development and not merely a Yadav leader,” said an insider, citing the kind of interest he takes in his department’s work. Tejashwi holds the Road Construction and Building Construction portfolios.
Lalu had become synonymous with caste politics. His hatred for upper castes — Bhumihars, Brahmins, Rajputs and Kayasthas — was well-known to the world. His slogan “Bhura baal saaf karo” of 1990s still haunts people, though Tejashwi denies there was any such slogan.
Tejashwi is trying to give the impression that he was not anti-forward caste. Many of his close aides are in fact from forward castes, especially Kayasthas, sources said.
“Tejashwi is working hard to change the image of RJD, which was known for the hooliganism and unruly behaviour of its workers. It may also be the result of the company of alliance partner JDU. But Tejashwi is taking care that RJD workers do not behave the way they used to do earlier,” he said. “Tejashwi has made it clear to workers that any kind of hooliganism would not be tolerated. It will take him time to establish himself as the most acceptable face in the party, but he is trying to do so. He is also polite while dealing with seniors like Abdul Bari Siddiqui, Raghuvansh Prasad Singh etc,” said an RJD source.
Knowing the importance of communication, the young Tejashwi has been quite active on social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter through which he communicates with the workers and keeps a tab on what is going on in remote parts of the state. He has deployed a dedicated team for the purpose. The young leader has been able to successfully mobilise the youth into the RJD fold.