Vaishali: As Bihar celebrates both the festival of democracy and the festival of faith, the boundary between devotion and politics seems to have blurred. During the ongoing Chhath Puja, RJD leader Kedar Prasad Yadav offered prayers to Chhathi Maiya, seeking blessings for Tejashwi Yadav to become the next Chief Minister of Bihar.
Yadav, a loyal supporter of the Rashtriya Janata Dal, observed a strict Chhath fast and walked two kilometres performing dandvat pranam (full-body prostrations) from Bhagwanpur to the local ghat. Speaking to reporters, he said, “I have taken a vow before Chhathi Maiya. Tejashwi Babu is the one who can eradicate unemployment from Bihar. Please bless him to become our Chief Minister.”
The RJD leader expressed faith that Tejashwi would fulfil all promises once in power — including a government job for every household, Rs. 30,000 monthly honorarium for Jeevika Didis, conversion of contractual workers to permanent status, Rs. 2,500 monthly assistance for women, 200 units of free electricity, LPG cylinders at Rs. 500, and double honorarium for panchayat representatives.
Tejashwi Yadav, recently announced as the chief ministerial candidate of the Mahagathbandhan, will contest the election alongside Mukesh Sahani of the Vikassheel Insaan Party, who has been declared the deputy chief ministerial face. The RJD is contesting 143 seats in the 243-member Bihar Assembly.
A former two-time deputy chief minister, Tejashwi Yadav first assumed office in 2015 at just 26. His brief but active tenure is credited with the recruitment of over 5.6 lakh government jobs, a point he continues to highlight in his campaign.
