Tejashwi Yadav ) As the Bihar assembly election campaign intensifies, INDIA bloc’s chief ministerial candidate, Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, lays out his vision for development, employment and economic justice while taking aim at his political rivals. He shares his plans to create jobs, strengthen the economy and build an inclusive Bihar with TOI’s AlokKNMishra. Excerpts: You are the chief ministerial candidate of the INDIA bloc and have been campaigning extensively across Bihar for the past several weeks.
What promises are you making to people, and what feedback are you getting? “My Age May Be Young, But My Promise Is Mature,” Says Tejashwi Yadav Ahead of Bihar Polls You have pledged to provide a govt job for every family. Critics argue that this may not be financially feasible for Bihar, which does not have the financial resources to fund this.
How do you plan to implement this promise? Have you consulted experts, carried out any study or prepared a blueprint for this? The INDIA bloc and the NDA are both contesting the election on the development plank. How is the RJD-led alliance’s development plank different from the NDA’s? Having served as deputy chief minister under Nitish Kumar, what do you think about Nitish Kumar’s style of leadership and the way he runs the Government? RJD has traditionally relied on support from the Muslim-Yadav vote base. This time, you have fielded more candidates from women, Dalits, and EBC communities.
How is the RJD attempting to broaden its appeal beyond the MuslimYadav combination? The voting patterns in recent Bihar elections indicate that a larger share of EBC, upper-caste and several groups within the Dalit community voters have favoured the NDA over the RJD Women in Bihar have traditionally been seen as strong supporters of Nitish Kumar. What strategies is the RJD adopting to attract more women voters in this election? Do you think the women of Bihar are going to support the INDIA bloc this time? The NDA is contesting the election under the leadership of Nitish Kumar, but it has not yet categorically announced that Nitish will be the CM if the NDA wins. What is your view on this? Why will the NDA not make Nitish Kumar the CM? RJD rule in Bihar ended 20 years ago.
Even now, many people say that a return of the RJD to power could bring back the ‘jungle raj’ of the past. Why do such perceptions persist even after so many years since the RJD last governed Bihar? You have been saying that Lalu Yadav gave social justice to the people of Bihar, and you will deliver economic justice.
Can you elaborate? There have been reports of internal differences within the INDIA bloc. How have you addressed or managed these challenges? But across 11 se ats, the INDIA bloc partners are contesting against each other in what is being described as a friendly fight. Congress is an important partner of the RJD-led alliance in Bihar.
It won 19 seats in 2020. How do you feel it is going to perform in this election? Did you give any suggestions to Congress when they were finalising the tickets? There seems to be tension in your family, with your elder brother’s newly formed party (Janshakti Janata Dal) contesting the election against many RJD candidates.
As his younger brother, many would expect him to support you and stand shoulder to shoulder with you in this crucial time. How do you respond to this? Is there any possibility of the RJD again aligning with Nitish Kumar’s party JD(U) in future? How challenging is Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj for the INDIA bloc? You are the INDIA bloc’s CM face. The VIP (Vikassheel Insaan Party) chief is the deputy chief minister face.
Is there a possibility that there could be another deputy CM from the Muslim community?.