'Dawn of a new era': Tejashwi Yadav named RJD’s national working president

Lalu Yadav handed the appointment letter to his son Tejashwi Yadav in the presence of other top leaders. (Image: X)

Rashtriya Janata Dal leader and Bihar Assembly’s Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav has been elevated as the party’s national working president, a move that further consolidates his position within the Bihar-based outfit founded by his father, Lalu Prasad Yadav.

"Dawn of a New Era! Shri Tejashwi Yadav Ji has been appointed as the National Executive President of Rashtriya Janata Dal," the party posted on its official X handle.

The decision was taken unanimously at the RJD’s national executive meeting held in Patna, underscoring Tejashwi Yadav’s growing authority within the party’s top leadership.

The meeting was attended by senior leaders including Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rabri Devi, Misa Bharti and other top functionaries. Bihar RJD president Mangni Lal Mandal formally announced Tejashwi’s appointment.

RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav formally handed over the appointment letter to his son Tejashwi Yadav in the presence of senior party leaders.

The younger son of the former chief minister couple, Tejashwi has long been viewed as the party’s de facto leader after his father, despite having an elder brother, Tej Pratap Yadav. With Tej Pratap having been expelled from the party months ago, Tejashwi is now firmly positioned as the political heir tasked with carrying forward the legacy of one of Bihar’s most influential families.

A former cricketer who played for the Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League, Tejashwi Yadav has also steadily built his political credentials. In the 2020 Bihar Assembly elections, the RJD emerged as the single largest party under his leadership and later briefly shared power with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.