Tej Pratap Yadav Backs Priyanka Gandhi as INDIA Face while Denouncing Rahul Gandhi’s Leadership

The Janshakti leader further challenged Rahul Gandhi’s motives regarding the political landscape of Bihar, particularly in light of Gandhi’s recent allegations that Nitish Kumar was "compromised" following the Janata Dal (United) chief’s exit from state politics. Yadav noted that while Kumar vacated his own position and another individual has assumed the role of Chief Minister, Gandhi remains focused on a state outside his own jurisdiction. He pointedly asked why Gandhi was being "greedy" about Bihar’s seats when he is positioned in another state.

This critique adds to a series of challenges regarding Rahul Gandhi's ability to manage the alliance. In January, former Congress leader Shakeel Ahmed told ANI that there is "no internal democracy" within the Congress party, alleging that Gandhi intends to "throw out" senior leadership. Ahmed, who noted he had won his fifth election by the time Gandhi won his first, suggested that Gandhi is uncomfortable with veterans who do not view him as their boss. In response to the current friction, Congress leader Udit Raj dismissed Yadav as "immature," suggesting he focus on his own work rather than "blabbering" and asserting that no one takes the Janshakti leader seriously. This escalating internal and external friction underscores the deepening leadership debate within the opposition as they attempt to consolidate a unified front.