Patna: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad has paved the way for son Tejashwi to enjoy more autonomy within the party, and even take some decisions on its policies without his approval. The move is being seen as the next step in the former Bihar chief minister’s gradual handover of the RJD’s reins to Tejashwi, a former deputy chief minister. The decision to authorise Tejashwi — leader of RJD’s legislative wing and member of its parliamentary board — to decide the party’s stand on caste census and expansion strategy, was taken at a meeting of party MLAs held Tuesday at the Patna residence of Lalu’s wife and former Bihar CM Rabri Devi.
“The meeting was attended by Laluji, all legislators and leaders of the party. A resolution was passed for Tejashwi Yadav to decide the party stand on caste census and expansion of the party,” RJD MLA Bhai Virendra Yadav told.
An all party meeting Wednesday decided to hold a caste-based headcount for Bihar. While the RJD resolution stops short of handing over complete party control to Tejashwi, “it allows him to make decisions in some party policies and functions without even consulting Lalu”, said another RJD MLA who did not wish to be named. So far, the younger leader would have to consult his father in person, or over the phone, before taking any party-related decision. “But this decision gives Tejashwi some authority. It gives political ground to Tejashwi,” said former Bihar assembly speaker Uday Narayan Choudhary. For now, however, state president Jagdanand Singh made it clear that Tejashwi does not get complete autonomy and Lalu ji remains “the boss”.
According to sources within the RJD, there has been a growing demand from party members for Tejashwi to be given more autonomy in taking party decisions, owing to Lalu being either in custody — in the fodder scam case — or undergoing treatment in the past year.
“Two weeks ago, I had written an open letter to Lalu ji asking him to give full control to Tejashwi. Tejashwi has proved himself as a leader accepted by the people and in the 2020 Bihar assembly polls he led the grand-alliance (of the Congress, RJD and other parties) to near victory,” said national vice-president Shivanand Tiwari. Although Tejashwi’s stature has grown as a leader in the past few years, there is still resistance to his leadership from some sections within the party.
