New Delhi/Patna: Political activity in Bihar has gathered pace with the return of Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and former deputy chief minister, after nearly a month in Europe. His absence from the state following the election defeat had drawn sharp criticism from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal (United), which portrayed the trip as a retreat from political responsibility.
Tejashwi arrived in Delhi late on Sunday, and within hours his movements were being closely watched. Late on Monday night, he met Lalu Prasad at the veteran leader’s residence in Pandara Park. The meeting was also attended by Rabri Devi and Misa Bharti, adding to the political significance of what might otherwise have been seen as a family gathering.
Photographs of Lalu Prasad, wearing dark glasses and appearing in familiar form, quickly circulated, reinforcing the impression that the party’s leadership was preparing for its next phase. Party sources said discussions focused on the changed political landscape after the elections, the role of the opposition, and the RJD’s organisational direction in the months ahead.
During Tejashwi’s absence, leaders from the BJP and JD (U) repeatedly targeted him over his foreign stay, questioning his priorities at a time when the opposition was expected to regroup. With his return, the political narrative has begun to shift, from criticism of his travel to scrutiny of how the RJD plans to respond to its electoral setback.
The party now faces the challenge of restoring morale among workers unsettled by defeat. Senior RJD figures said Tejashwi’s presence was expected to energise the organisation, with a series of meetings likely to be held from the district level upwards as the party reassesses its strategy.
