“It Was I Who Made Your Father, Lalu Yadav,” Says Angry Nitish Kumar to Tejashwi Yadav in Fiery Bihar Assembly Debate
In a dramatic moment that left the Bihar Assembly buzzing, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar angrily responded to an interruption by RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, invoking the legacy of Lalu Prasad Yadav, Tejashwi’s father. The clash occurred during a discussion about the development work done by the NDA government, as tensions between the two political titans escalated. Nitish Kumar’s comments, which included the powerful statement, “It was I who made your father what he became,” have sent shockwaves through the political landscape of Bihar.
A Fiery Exchange in the Bihar Assembly
The debate in the Bihar Assembly became heated when Tejashwi Yadav interrupted Nitish Kumar, prompting a sharp response from the Chief Minister. With the assembly in chaos, Nitish Kumar did not hold back, hitting out at Tejashwi and, by extension, his father Lalu Prasad Yadav’s political history.
In his sharp rebuttal, Kumar said, “What was there in Bihar before? It was I who made your (Tejashwi Yadav) father what he became. Even people from your own caste were questioning me about why I was supporting him, but I still did.” The statement, laced with historical context, underscored the complex and often turbulent political relationship between the two families.
The Controversial Legacy of Lalu Yadav and Nitish Kumar
The tensions between Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad Yadav are rooted in years of shifting alliances and political battles. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Nitish Kumar and Lalu Yadav were political allies. Despite their differences, Kumar supported Lalu’s leadership, playing a pivotal role in his rise to power. However, the alliance eventually broke down due to ideological rifts, leading to several years of political rivalry.
Kumar’s statement not only highlights his personal role in Lalu Yadav’s political career but also serves as a reminder of the deep-seated animosity that remains between the two families. This was further fueled by Kumar’s departure from the Grand Alliance (Mahagathbandhan) and his alignment with the BJP-led NDA in 2017.
Tejashwi Yadav’s Interruptions and Nitish Kumar’s Angry Retaliation
Tejashwi Yadav, who has steadily emerged as a vocal critic of Nitish Kumar and the NDA government, did not remain silent during Kumar’s speech. As soon as Kumar started speaking about the NDA government’s development work in Bihar, Yadav interrupted him, only to be met with the Chief Minister’s blistering reply. Kumar continued, “You don’t know anything. When Lalu Yadav was opposing the separation of Extremely Backward Classes and Backward Classes in Bihar, I opposed him at that time.”
This comment referenced a key political conflict from the 1990s, when Lalu Yadav resisted the reorganization of Bihar’s backward classes, a move that Nitish Kumar strongly opposed. By bringing up this old issue, Kumar reminded Tejashwi of the long-standing political differences between the Yadavs and himself, seeking to discredit Tejashwi’s current stance.
The Rhetoric Behind Nitish Kumar’s Outburst
Nitish Kumar’s use of Lalu Yadav’s name during the heated debate was not merely a personal attack but a strategic political maneuver. The Chief Minister wanted to remind Tejashwi Yadav of his family’s reliance on Kumar’s political support to rise to power. By saying, “I made your father what he became,” Kumar sought to undermine Tejashwi’s current position as a leader who is attempting to separate himself from his father’s political baggage.
Kumar’s words were also a subtle attempt to frame himself as the more experienced and capable leader, one who had shaped Bihar’s political future and contributed to Lalu Yadav’s rise, despite any ideological differences.
The Ongoing Political Struggle Between the NDA and RJD
This verbal spat between Nitish Kumar and Tejashwi Yadav reflects the ongoing political battle between the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). As the 2025 state elections draw nearer, Bihar remains divided between these two political camps, both of which have their own visions for the state’s future.
While Nitish Kumar continues to highlight the developmental strides made by the NDA government, Tejashwi Yadav has been vocal in his criticism, pointing out shortcomings in governance, corruption, and mismanagement. The animosity between the two leaders only intensifies the political rivalry in the state.
Under Kumar’s leadership, the NDA government has made significant progress in infrastructure development, rural electrification, and poverty alleviation. However, critics argue that Bihar still faces issues like unemployment, law and order concerns, and a lack of quality healthcare and education. Tejashwi Yadav’s criticisms of the current administration resonate with many who feel that Bihar’s progress has been slow.
Looking Ahead: The Battle for Bihar’s Future
As the political temperature rises in Bihar, it is clear that the feud between Nitish Kumar and Tejashwi Yadav is far from over. With both leaders positioning themselves as the future of Bihar’s politics, it remains to be seen who will gain the upper hand in the upcoming elections.
The ongoing rivalry between the NDA and RJD is set to dominate Bihar’s political discourse in the years to come, with the state’s development trajectory hanging in the balance. Voters will have to decide which leader offers the most viable path forward for Bihar—whether it’s Nitish Kumar’s experience and alliance with the BJP or Tejashwi Yadav’s fresh opposition agenda.
A Defining Moment in Bihar Politics
The exchange between Nitish Kumar and Tejashwi Yadav in the Bihar Assembly is a stark reminder of the political complexities that have shaped the state’s history. With both leaders vying for political dominance, the future of Bihar’s governance remains uncertain. For now, the state’s political landscape continues to be defined by the legacies of Lalu Yadav, Nitish Kumar, and the ongoing battle for power.