Farmers Movement Archive

Bihar: Tejashwi Prasad Yadav proves himself to be more than a fast learner

PATNA: If the salient features of a seasoned lawmaker on the floor of the House include the capacity to play wit and humour and take the House members along and keep them gripped to the articulate presentation of facts on any issue without being distracted by muffled remarks and catcalls, the leader of opposition in the state assembly Tejashwi Prasad Yadav has shown that he is no greenhorn. Tejashwi, in fact, has proved that he is “more than a fast learner”. He also showed himself as one who was capable of playing a subtle game of politics, as he tried to reach out to a mentor like CM Nitish Kumar, who had made him deputy CM in the grand alliance government (2015-17). All this came out on full display in the state assembly on at least two occasions in the last six days of the budget session, when Tejashwi was pitched against Nitish and deputy CM cum finance minister Tarkishore Prasad. The impression cast on the observers, including on those in the treasury benches, has been that of an engaging legislator. It has also led to the change of his image. Otherwise, elected to the state assembly in 2015 and 2020, Tejashwi was largely deemed as a shirker and non-performer on the floor of the House, largely as a legislator who had frequently absented from the House proceedings in the last term and was also considered a leader by virtue of being the son of RJD chief Lalu Prasad. That, however, had changed during the electioneering for the assembly elections last year, when he was pitched against not only PM Narendra Modi, but the entire national BJP brass, besides the NDA’s state leaders, including Nitish. His party RJD won 75 seats against BJP’s 74, while Nitish’s JD(U) came third with 43 seats. Seemingly, he carried the momentum to the budget session. While there was nothing eye-catching about him on the opening day of the session, Tejashwi reached the assembly gate on a tractor on February 22 to highlight the farmer issues and register his party’s support to the agitation against the three farm laws passed by the Centre. On Friday, he reached the assembly riding a bicycle to underscore the popular anger at the petrol, diesel and LPG cylinder price rise. However, what left the observers discussing about Tejashwi was his performance on the motion of thanks to the governor’s address on February 23, when he had to present his point of view on the Nitish’s 15-year rule. Citing figures, Tejashwi brought home the point that the cognisable offences had increased 101.2% since 2005, when the NDA government led by Nitish came to power. Tejashwi insisted that the ‘jungle raj’ epithet used by the BJP and JD(U) against the 15-year Lalu-Rabri rule was more a propaganda and misinformation than anything else. Indeed, Nitish skipped this aspect, saying it would be visited during the government’s reply to the budgetary demand for the home-police department. On February 25, it was Tejashwi who impressed the observers with his speech on the budget for 2021-22. Citing a spectrum of comparative statistics reflecting the size of the economy, state’s own tax collections, per capita income and expenditures under the plan head both under the Lalu-Rabri and Nitish rules, he largely succeeded in articulating that the performance of his parents’ rule on the economic front, faced with obvious constraints and stepmotherly treatment of the Centre, was not so bad as had been made out for the last two decades. Indeed, observers were heard saying: “Can you recall any RJD leader citing statistics in the House so cogently?” That apart, Tejashwi succeeded in playing subtle politics as he tried to build bridges with Nitish, who only last year had shown unprecedented volcanic rage against him for making personal remarks. On the other hand, Tejashwi rubbed the wounded self and pride of Nitish when he said JD(U) had become the third largest party in the House for splitting from the grand alliance in 2017. Further, Tejashwi also suggested that Nitish was uncomfortable with BJP, as he was not being given free hand to perform. He, in fact, said Nitish’s plight was that of “kathputli” (puppet) and “stepini”. As to marshalling wit and humour, Tejashwi was at his sarcastic best when he instantly called VIP leader and state minister Mukesh Sahani a “recharge coupon” for being made an MLC by the BJP for a limited period and not a six-year term. Sahani had made a sarcastic remark at Tejashwi.

The Times of India

2021-02-27

Patna