Kanhaiya Kumar, the young Congress leader in Bihar politics, has made it clear that Tejashwi Yadav, the leader of the RJD, the largest party in the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance), is considered the main face for the Chief Minister's post in the upcoming assembly elections. He stated that the CM candidate in the alliance will be from the party that has the most MLAs and is leading the alliance. Kanhaiya also mentioned that opposition parties raise this issue to distract the public from the main election issues.
Even so, Kanhaiya Kumar has not been fully embraced within the Lalu family and the RJD. A recent example of this was seen during a march by opposition leaders when Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav were on an open truck, but Kanhaiya was left behind. This incident highlights the discord within the Mahagathbandhan and Kanhaiya's limited acceptance. Assembly elections are scheduled to be held in Bihar later this year, and the Mahagathbandhan has put all its efforts into defeating the NDA. The RJD is campaigning with Tejashwi Yadav as the CM face, while the Congress has not yet made any official announcement regarding the CM face. Kanhaiya's statement makes it clear that the CM face is decided, but the complexities of relationships and politics within the alliance remain.
Reasons for not finding a place in the Lalu family
In the political climate of Bihar, Kanhaiya Kumar has clarified that Tejashwi Yadav is the main face for the Chief Minister's post for the Mahagathbandhan. Despite this, the Lalu family has not brought Kanhaiya closer to them. Political analysts say that Lalu Prasad Yadav has not been comfortable with Kanhaiya's activism and growing influence in Bihar from the beginning. While Tejashwi has received support as a political heir, Kanhaiya has established a b identity in the Congress through his own hard work and capabilities.
Prashant Kishor, the head of the Jan Suraaj Party, has also praised Kanhaiya Kumar's talent. He said that among all the Congress leaders in Bihar, Kanhaiya is the most influential and can achieve something. Prashant Kishor also alleged that if the Congress is not using Kanhaiya properly in Bihar, it means that it has become an appendage of the RJD. The growing popularity and influence of Kanhaiya has created dissatisfaction within the Lalu family, which is a major challenge in his political path.
Did Kanhaiya Hijack Tejashwi's Agenda?
About four months ago, Kanhaiya Kumar initiated a padyatra (foot march) called 'Stop Migration, Give Jobs' focusing on the problems of youth, which has become a major election issue for the Congress. This issue aligns with Tejashwi Yadav's electoral agenda related to unemployment, migration, and education, and Kanhaiya has been actively raising it since the 2020 assembly elections. During this padyatra, questions also arose about whether Kanhaiya had hijacked Tejashwi's agenda.
Tejashwi is Ahead in Leadership and Political Understanding
A senior RJD leader has clearly stated that it is not appropriate to compare Tejashwi Yadav and Kanhaiya Kumar. Tejashwi Yadav is a leader who has not been involved in controversies for anti-national statements, whereas Kanhaiya's political image has been surrounded by controversies. When Tejashwi Yadav, who has a deep commitment and experience for Bihar and its people, is present, it becomes difficult to take Kanhaiya seriously.
Experts believe that Tejashwi Yadav is far more experienced in terms of leadership. This experience is clearly visible in the assembly and Lok Sabha elections. In contrast, Kanhaiya has never independently led a political party. Both leaders are adept at gathering large crowds due to their respective regional strengths. Tejashwi Yadav is known for his hold on the Muslim vote bank, while Kanhaiya Kumar, a former JNU president, has gained public support in Bihar as well as other parts of the country. Both are influential orators and launch sharp attacks on political opponents, but Tejashwi Yadav is ahead in terms of political experience.
Kanhaiya Faced Defeat in Lok Sabha Elections
Kanhaiya Kumar began his political journey by contesting against the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, he contested from the Begusarai seat on a CPI ticket, where Tanveer Hussain of the RJD was also in the fray. However, he was defeated in this election by Giriraj Singh of the BJP.
