“Next Time, We Will Make Rahul Gandhi Prime Minister”: Tejashwi Yadav at Voter Adhikar Rally

Nawada: RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Tuesday declared that the opposition would work to make Rahul Gandhi the next Prime Minister, signaling that the Congress MP would be the face of the INDIA bloc in upcoming elections. The announcement came during the ‘Voter Adhikar’ rally in Nawada, where Tejashwi was joined by the Leader of the Opposition.

“Next time, we will make Rahul Gandhi the Prime Minister,” Tejashwi asserted, emphasizing the opposition’s focus on projecting a united leadership this time, in contrast to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections when internal differences left the INDIA bloc without a clear prime ministerial face. Prior to those elections, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee and AAP’s Arvind Kejriwal had supported Mallikarjun Kharge as the potential leader.

Addressing the rally, Tejashwi sharply criticized the Election Commission and the BJP, alleging a coordinated attempt to manipulate votes in Bihar. “The BJP wants to snatch away the right to vote… We are Biharis. One Bihari outweighs all. We treat elections like khaini – we rub it and throw it away,” he said.

His remarks come amid the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, which he described as a method to disenfranchise voters. Draft rolls released by the ECI show that over 65 lakh voters have been removed. “The SIR is a dacoity of votes, and we will not allow that to happen. It’s a conspiracy of the ruling dispensation to disenfranchise voters in Bihar,” Tejashwi alleged.

He also urged Bihar’s youth to replace the Nitish Kumar-led NDA government, which he described as “old and rickety”. “The young should now get a chance. The youth have resolved that they will remove from power this old and rickety government,” he added.