Ahead of the Bihar assembly elections, the political landscape is witnessing various shifts. The ‘Voter Rights Yatra,’ initiated by the India alliance to protest against the SIR, is showcasing interesting interactions and discussions. New political equations are being formed, seemingly overlooking past differences, in anticipation of the upcoming elections. One such development is the apparent bridging of the gap between Pappu Yadav, MP from Purnia, and Tejashwi Yadav.
Whether it’s a matter of changing times or political strategy, Rahul Gandhi seems to have succeeded in bringing Tejashwi Yadav and Pappu Yadav closer. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the RJD had denied Pappu Yadav a ticket from the Purnia seat. Instead, the RJD fielded its own candidate. However, Pappu Yadav contested as an independent MP and aligned with the Congress, a move that appears to have been successful.
Additionally, during a recent protest in Patna against the Election Commission, Pappu Yadav and Kanhaiya Kumar were not allowed to join Rahul Gandhi in his car. A video of Pappu Yadav went viral on social media, causing him embarrassment. However, both the Congress and RJD have now accepted Kanhaiya and Pappu Yadav. This is evident as Pappu Yadav was seen with Tejashwi Yadav in Rahul Gandhi’s car during the Voter Rights Yatra in Purnia, where he also delivered a speech.
During the Voter Rights Yatra, Tejashwi Yadav welcomed Pappu Yadav, saying, ‘We welcome Pappu Yadav Ji to the land of Araria.’ Following this, Pappu Yadav, in his speech, referred to Tejashwi as a ‘Jannayak’ (people’s leader) and a brother. He stated that Tejashwi Yadav is a ‘Jannayak’ and his brother, who is working to eliminate terror.
With the Bihar assembly elections approaching, Tejashwi Yadav has been declared as the CM face by the alliance. Rahul Gandhi himself has acknowledged this. Rahul has emphasized the importance of unity, indicating that in order for Tejashwi to become CM, he needs to unite everyone. This stance by Rahul seems to have resonated with or been accepted by Tejashwi.