RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav declared himself as the chief ministerial face of the Grand Alliance in Bihar. The announcement came during a rally in Ara, where Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav shared the stage. Tejashwi unilaterally positioned himself as the alliance’s candidate for the top post, while Rahul Gandhi remained silent on the issue. The rally marked a key moment in Bihar politics, as opposition leaders intensified their campaign across the state with a roadshow that has reached multiple districts since August 17.
Tejashwi Attacks Nitish Kumar as “Copycat CM”
During the rally, Tejashwi Yadav launched a strong attack on Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. He branded him a “copycat Chief Minister” for replicating policies without originality. Addressing the crowd, Tejashwi said, “Tejashwi is moving ahead. The government is following behind.” He claimed that while he continued to announce bold steps, Nitish Kumar simply copied his initiatives. This criticism highlighted Tejashwi’s attempt to project himself as a dynamic alternative to the ruling leadership, while framing Nitish as dependent on the policies introduced by the opposition camp.
VIDEO | Bihar: During the Voter Adhikar Yatra in Arrah, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav (@yadavtejashwi) addresses a public gathering. He says,
“If you want education and employment, you must remove this inactive government. This government has no vision; they copy what I have done… pic.twitter.com/gkuRnsFSxN
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 30, 2025
“Original vs Duplicate” Debate Takes Center Stage
Tejashwi Yadav further escalated his pitch by asking the crowd to choose between an “original chief minister” and a “duplicate CM.” He described himself as the “original” candidate and positioned Nitish Kumar as the “duplicate.” The statement clearly signaled Tejashwi’s intention to take charge of the Grand Alliance leadership. His declaration came despite Rahul Gandhi and the Congress refraining from announcing an official CM face. The slogans raised during the rally amplified the narrative of originality versus imitation, creating a central theme in the opposition’s campaign strategy.
Rahul Gandhi Targets Election Commission and BJP
Rahul Gandhi used the platform to accuse the Election Commission of India and the BJP of working together against opposition parties. Speaking on the roadshow, Gandhi said the campaign was launched to protest “vote theft” and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. He declared, “Our entire pressure is to change the behaviour of the Election Commission and we will not leave it. We will not let you steal the election in Bihar. You stole in Maharashtra. You stole in Haryana. In Karnataka, we clearly showed that votes were stolen. We will not let it happen here.”
Tejashwi Yadav Calls ECI “Godi Aayog”
Tejashwi Yadav also criticized the Election Commission in sharp words. He said, “The Election Commission is no longer Election Commission. It has become Godi Aayog. Now the Election Commission, is working like a cell of BJP party, a worker of BJP. To save democracy, to save the constitution, to save the right to vote, and to save the existence of the people, Rahul Gandhi ji and all of us have set out on this yatra. And one thing is clear on this yatra that we have also visited rural areas at the ground level. The credibility of the Election Commission has ended…”
Swastika Sruti is a Senior Sub Editor at NewsX Digital with 5 years of experience shaping stories that matter. She loves tracking politics- national and global trends, and never misses a chance to dig deeper into policies and developments. Passionate about what’s happening around us, she brings sharp insight and clarity to every piece she works on. When not curating news, she’s busy exploring what’s next in the world of public interest. You can reach her at [swastika.newsx@gmail.com]
