The cracks in Bihar’s Mahagathbandhan are widening after the 2025 assembly election debacle. Reports suggest the once-solid alliance between Congress and RJD is fraying at the edges, with speculation rife about an imminent split. Amid this turmoil, Jan Shakti Janata Dal chief Tej Pratap Yadav, son of RJD patriarch Lalu Yadav, has unleashed a scathing attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
Speaking to reporters in Patna on Sunday, Tej Pratap didn’t hold back. On queries about Congress parting ways with RJD, he quipped that they should have done it much earlier instead of contesting the polls together and suffering a crushing defeat. Taking a direct swipe at Rahul Gandhi, he mocked, ‘Rahul is a phatphatiya master. He excels at riding scooters and cooking chicken rice – that’s his expertise.’
Tej Pratap’s barbs didn’t stop there. He labeled Rahul Gandhi a ‘cowardly leader,’ referencing the Congress scion’s unfulfilled promise to visit Ayodhya’s Ram Temple. ‘He said he’d go, but hasn’t shown up. Why the delay? Merely zipping around on a scooter spreading pollution won’t cut it,’ he taunted.
Echoing sentiments from former Congress leader Dr. Shakeel Ahmad, who called Rahul insecure and timid, Tej Pratap agreed wholeheartedly. ‘No doubt about it – Rahul is indeed a coward,’ he asserted.
The verbal salvo comes at a time when alliance partners are pointing fingers over the election loss. Tej Pratap suggested that both parties would need to assess the fallout of any separation themselves.
In a separate note, addressing the tragic NEET aspirant case in Patna, Tej Pratap demanded stringent action against the culprits. ‘The government must swiftly apprehend the accused and ensure justice for the victim’s family,’ he urged, highlighting his commitment to pressing issues beyond political rhetoric.
As Bihar’s political landscape shifts, Tej Pratap’s outspoken critique signals deeper rifts that could reshape opposition dynamics ahead of future battles.