Tej Pratap accused Rahul Gandhi of being driven by ambition and lacking seriousness. He alleged Rahul is “a power-hungry person” and alleged that he was trying to assert control beyond his political space.
File Photo: IANS
Tej Pratap Yadav, son of Lalu Prasad Yadav and brother of Tejashwi Yadav, today openly backed Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as the potential face of the INDI alliance, while launching a scathing attack on Rahul Gandhi’s leadership.
Speaking in Patna, Janshakti Janta Dal Founder Tej Pratap said Priyanka alone could steer the opposition bloc, drawing a direct comparison with former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. “Priyanka Gandhi can lead; she is like Indira Gandhi. Rahul Gandhi cannot run it,” he said, dismissing Rahul’s political style as ineffective.
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He said, “Priyanka Gandhi hi chala sakti hai, woh Indira Gandhi ji ki tarah hai. Rahul Gandhi ji se chalne wala nahi hai.”
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#WATCH | Patna, Bihar: “Priyanka Gandhi hi chala sakti hai, woh Indira Gandhi ji ki tarah hai. Rahul Gandhi ji se chalne wala nahi hai. Yatra nikaalne se, Bullet pe baith jaane se…” says Janshakti Janta Dal Founder Tej Pratap Yadav on being asked about speculations of Congress… pic.twitter.com/hz2ZgjdK56
— ANI (@ANI) April 21, 2026
In his blunt remarks, Yadav accused Rahul Gandhi of being driven by ambition and lacking seriousness. He alleged that Rahul was “consumed by the desire for power” and alleged that he was trying to assert control beyond his political space.
Mocking Rahul’s public appearances, Yadav said symbolic gestures like yatras, riding a Bullet motorcycle and playing songs on a DJ do not translate into leadership. He also took a swipe at Rahul’s style, portraying him as more focused on spectacle than substance. He said, “Rahul Gandhi should go and dance in Hollywood.”
“…Rahul Gandhi himself is being consumed by the desire for power. Slowly, he is becoming greedy. That is why he feels like sitting on Bihar’s throne. He is a power-hungry person from another state. Especially in him, there is a tendency like riding a Bullet motorcycle without a helmet, and carelessly throwing away someone else’s Bullet vehicle. This is what he does; he remains involved in such things. He was playing songs on a DJ and making everyone dance and sing. That is his hobby, making people dance and sing. He just wants to dance everywhere; he should go and dance in Hollywood.”
Patna, Bihar: Janshakti Janta Dal Founder Tej Pratap Yadav says, “…Rahul Gandhi himself is being consumed by the desire for power. Slowly, he is becoming greedy. That is why he feels like sitting on Bihar’s throne. He is a power-hungry person from another state. Especially in… pic.twitter.com/smCDo0kaV2
— IANS (@ians_india) April 21, 2026
Yadav’s endorsement of Priyanka Gandhi comes amid ongoing speculation over leadership within the INDI alliance. By invoking Indira Gandhi, he signalled a preference for a more assertive and centralised leadership figure within the opposition.
His remarks are significant given the delicate balance within the alliance, where leadership questions remain unresolved ahead of key electoral battles.
His sharp criticism of Rahul Gandhi, coupled with open praise for Priyanka, adds a new layer to the ongoing debate over opposition unity and direction. It is likely to trigger reactions within both the Congress and the broader INDI alliance, as they touch on leadership, internal dynamics, and key electoral narratives.
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