The Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Bharatiya Janata Party are at odds over the opposition bloc’s use of the title “Jan Nayak” for Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav — with mutual accusations of appropriation and incompetence dominating the debate.

Patna, Bihar| Tuesday, October 28, 2025

Bihar’s political battleground has found a new flashpoint. The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are now embroiled in a heated confrontation over the use of the “Jan Nayak” title for Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and RJD chief Tejashwi Yadav — a phrase historically reserved for socialist icon Karpoori Thakur, one of the most revered figures in Bihar politics.

What began as a routine campaign tagline has now morphed into a war of symbolism and legitimacy, with both RJD and BJP claiming to defend the legacy of Karpoori Thakur from what they call “political appropriation.” The controversy has also strained coordination within the opposition INDIA bloc, already navigating complex power dynamics between national and regional parties.

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Genesis of the controversy

The spark came when the official Congress social-media handle released a campaign poster hailing Rahul Gandhi as “Jan Nayak.” Within hours, RJD banners appeared in Patna declaring Tejashwi Yadav as “Bihar ka Nayak” — suggesting an attempt to jointly brand the INDIA bloc leadership under the same populist banner.

However, the move backfired. The BJP accused the opposition of hijacking Karpoori Thakur’s title, a move it termed both “tone-deaf” and “cynical.” BJP spokesperson Ajay Alok went further, calling Rahul and Tejashwi “nalayak nayaks” (inept leaders) and questioning their political merit. “You can print a poster, but leadership is earned, not borrowed,” he said, sparking uproar in both camps.

The RJD, while defending Tejashwi Yadav’s use of the “Nayak” phrase, quietly distanced itself from the Congress’s designation for Rahul Gandhi — exposing the friction inside the opposition INDIA bloc.

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Karpoori Thakur’s enduring legacy

The Jan Nayak title carries deep emotional and historical weight in Bihar politics. It was bestowed upon Karpoori Thakur, the socialist leader and former Chief Minister who championed caste justice, reservation for backward classes and governance for the poor.

Over the decades, his name has become a moral compass in state politics — invoked by every major party, from RJD to JD(U) to BJP. By linking Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav to that title, the opposition sought to symbolically inherit his populist legacy.

But for the BJP, this was a red line. Party leaders accused the RJD and Congress of “stealing the soul of socialist Bihar” for electoral gain. “No political label can disguise the failures of the past,” said Union Minister Nityanand Rai, referencing corruption cases during RJD’s earlier tenure.

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RJD vs RJD: internal disagreement

Sources inside the RJD admit that the Congress’s unilateral declaration of Rahul Gandhi as “Jan Nayak” blindsided them. “We have no problem with Rahul Gandhi being respected, but in Bihar, Tejashwi Yadav is the face of the opposition,” said an RJD strategist. “The ‘Jan Nayak’ title is emotionally tied to Karpoori Thakur’s socialist movement — it should not be misused for branding.”

This RJD vs RJD tension underscores the INDIA bloc’s broader challenge — balancing national imagery with state-level realities. The Congress wants Rahul Gandhi projected as the national face of reformist populism, while RJD insists Tejashwi Yadav must remain the “youth Nayak” of Bihar.

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BJP’s counter-offensive: “Nalayak vs Nayak”

The BJP has seized the opportunity to ridicule both leaders and dominate headlines. “They want to be Jan Nayak,” quipped BJP’s Sanjay Jaiswal, “but their record makes them Jan Nalayak.” Party leaders also resurrected old governance issues — law and order, unemployment and corruption under RJD’s rule — contrasting them with BJP’s emphasis on “vikas” (development).

By mocking the opposition’s label war, the BJP aims to shift the debate from political labels India often uses for symbolism toward tangible performance metrics.

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Symbolism, caste and Bihar’s electoral psychology

The Jan Nayak controversy is not merely semantic. In Bihar’s caste-driven political environment, symbols like these help consolidate specific vote-banks. For the RJD, invoking Karpoori Thakur ties directly into its OBC and EBC outreach, while the Congress hopes the pan-India socialist tag revives its fading grassroots credibility.

The BJP, by attacking both, tries to guard its expanding base among the same backward-class demographics, positioning Prime Minister Modi as the real inheritor of inclusive development.

Political analysts note that titles such as “Jan Nayak” have always carried electoral power. “Karpoori Thakur’s name resonates deeply,” says political scientist N.K. Singh. “Appropriating his image is an attempt to access moral legitimacy. The BJP’s ‘nalayak’ counter is a calculated emotional undercut.”

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INDIA bloc under pressure

The opposition INDIA bloc, meant to represent a united front, now faces a perception problem. The Samajwadi Party (SP) — another key INDIA ally — publicly questioned Rahul Gandhi’s coronation as “Jan Nayak,” suggesting SP’s own leader Akhilesh Yadav deserved that recognition. The Trinamool Congress and DMK have so far remained silent, wary of internal fractures.

This friction over symbolic hierarchy comes at a time when the bloc is struggling to present a coherent national narrative beyond anti-BJP unity. Political analysts warn that these internal branding wars could blunt the alliance’s message before the 2026 Bihar Assembly elections.

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Bihar politics and optics of leadership

In Bihar politics, optics often outweigh manifestos. The BJP’s strategy rests on mocking dynastic entitlement — portraying Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav as products of privilege rather than people’s struggle. The RJD and Congress, conversely, present them as modern heirs to a socialist tradition — youth icons committed to equity and employment.

At stake is not just the Jan Nayak title, but who defines Bihar’s political future: a governance-driven BJP, or an emotional, legacy-driven opposition. The rhetorical battle between “Nayak” and “Nalayak” has now become shorthand for contrasting ideologies.

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Public response and social-media spin

On social media, both sides are running aggressive campaigns. The BJP’s hashtags #JanNalayakRahul and #NayakOfCorruption trended across X (formerly Twitter), while RJD and Congress counters with #JanNayakTejashwi and #PeopleLeaderRahul. Memes juxtaposing Rahul Gandhi’s padyatras and Tejashwi Yadav’s rallies with Karpoori Thakur’s black-and-white portraits went viral — blurring reverence with ridicule.

For many younger voters, this exchange defines not policy but perception — who appears more authentic, relatable and capable of governance.

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