Union Minister Chirag Paswan launched a sharp attack on Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav on Saturday, January 11, 2026, over his party's response to the recent Bihar assembly election results. Paswan accused the opposition leader of disrespecting the people's mandate and failing to address internal discontent within his own party.
Paswan's Critique of RJD's Post-Election Narrative
In a strongly-worded statement, Paswan targeted the RJD's tendency to attribute electoral losses to external factors. He highlighted that RJD leaders and workers frequently blame Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) or the system itself instead of conducting honest introspection. The Union Minister pointed out that this pattern of deflection prevents the party from confronting the genuine frustrations simmering within its ranks.
Paswan's comments come in the wake of Tejashwi Yadav's recent remarks, interpreted by many as suggesting that "people get lost in a democracy," a statement Paswan seized upon to underscore his criticism of the RJD's leadership approach.
Leadership Silence and Erosion of Party Base
A core part of Paswan's criticism focused on Tejashwi Yadav's alleged disconnect from his party's own legislators and ground-level workers. Paswan stressed that the leadership's silence and lack of communication are actively weakening the RJD's organizational base in Bihar.
He argued that when senior leaders do not engage with their Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) and grassroots cadres, it creates a vacuum of trust and direction. This, according to Paswan, leads to a gradual but steady erosion of support, which is more damaging than any single electoral defeat.
The Path Forward: Accountability and Engagement
Concluding his remarks, Chirag Paswan issued a direct appeal to the RJD leadership. He urged them to reflect deeply on their current trajectory and take full responsibility for the party's performance. Paswan emphasized that only through genuine accountability and proactive engagement with party members can the RJD hope to regain its credibility.
The Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) leader made it clear that rebuilding trust with the electorate is a long process. It requires consistent effort from the top, a willingness to listen to the grassroots, and a move away from blaming institutions like the EVM. For now, Paswan's critique has added a new dimension to the political discourse in Bihar, setting the stage for a renewed focus on internal party democracy and leadership responsibility.
