NDA Targets Tejashwi Yadav for Europe Trip, Calls His Absence from Assembly a Political Embarrassment

Bihar’s political landscape heated up on Tuesday after the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) launched a sharp attack on former Deputy Chief Minister and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav for skipping the ongoing Assembly session to travel to Europe. Labeling his absence a “political embarrassment,” NDA leaders claimed that Yadav had abandoned his responsibilities at a time when crucial legislative discussions were underway.

Tejashwi Yadav, currently the Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Assembly, reportedly left for a personal foreign trip to Europe just as the Winter Session began. His absence was immediately seized upon by ruling coalition members, who accused him of lacking seriousness toward parliamentary duties and failing to respect the institution he leads the Opposition in.

BJP and JD(U) leaders were unanimous in their criticism. Senior NDA legislators argued that an elected representative particularly one holding the post of Leader of the Opposition cannot afford to be absent when important debates, policy discussions, and accountability sessions are taking place.

BJP spokespersons ridiculed Yadav’s decision, calling it an “insult” to the voters who placed him in the legislature. “Tejashwi Yadav has turned the Assembly into a part-time job. At a time when issues like law and order, inflation, and governance require strong Opposition scrutiny, he is vacationing abroad,” an NDA MLA said.

JD(U) leaders joined the criticism, suggesting that the RJD leader’s absence exposes a lack of commitment to the people of Bihar. Some even claimed that Yadav was attempting to avoid difficult political questions related to crime data and corruption allegations raised in the House.

The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), however, defended its leader, stating that Tejashwi Yadav’s trip was pre-planned and personal in nature. Party officials argued that Opposition members are not required to be present every day and that the NDA was attempting to manufacture controversy for political mileage.

RJD spokespersons pushed back, saying, “This is nothing but a diversion tactic. The NDA government is failing on every major parameter, and instead of answering questions, they are targeting Tejashwi Yadav’s personal trip.” They added that the Opposition was functioning effectively in the House through its remaining senior members.

This is not the first time Tejashwi Yadav’s absences have been questioned. NDA leaders have repeatedly accused him of being inconsistent with House attendance, particularly during critical legislative sessions. RJD, on the other hand, maintains that ruling parties exaggerate such issues to sidestep governance failures.

Political analystsnote that absenteeism debates often become symbolic battlegrounds, with ruling parties portraying it as dereliction and Opposition parties defending it as political framing.

The controversy adds to the growing friction between the two blocs ahead of the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections. As both alliances position themselves for an early political start, incidents like this come under sharp scrutiny.

For the NDA, targeting Tejashwi’s foreign travel helps strengthen its narrative that the young RJD leader lacks maturity and dedication. For the RJD, the strategy is to paint the ruling alliance as distracted by optics instead of addressing the state’s economic and social challenges.

Whether the controversy remains a brief flashpoint or escalates further will depend on how political events unfold in the coming days. For now, Tejashwi Yadav’s Europe trip has given the NDA a fresh opportunity to question his leadership style, turning his absence from the Assembly into a high-voltage political talking point in Bihar.