Patna – Tejashwi Yadav, the leader of the opposition in the Bihar assembly, is facing criticism from the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) after he skipped the assembly session to embark on a family trip to Europe. This absence has ignited a political firestorm, with NDA leaders questioning his commitment to his duties and responsibilities as a public servant.

Yadav's absence from the joint session of both houses of the state legislature, addressed by Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, drew immediate and sharp reactions from the NDA. While the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) cited "urgent assignments" as the reason for his absence, members of the ruling party were quick to cast doubt on this explanation.

JD(U) MLC Neeraj Kumar was seen making a show of searching for Yadav, pointedly questioning his whereabouts. BJP ministers also joined in, taking digs at Yadav's attendance record. BJP minister Nitin Nabin said that Tejashwi has a history of skipping house sessions. He added that Yadav is hardly seen inside the House and that is why he faced such a situation.

The NDA's attack is not a new phenomenon. Previously, the NDA has criticized Yadav for failing to vote and for his alleged inaction during crises. In 2019, the NDA taunted Yadav for not casting his vote, questioning his dedication to the democratic process. Similarly, during the 2020 elections, the NDA attacked Yadav for his attempts to deflect criticism of the RJD's record on lawlessness and corruption.

The RJD has defended Yadav, stating that he was out of Patna due to some urgent work and that there shouldn't be any politics over it. An RJD leader mentioned that Tejashwi rushed to Delhi soon after welcoming Prem Kumar, who was unanimously elected as the Speaker of the assembly on Tuesday. RJD MLA Ranvijay Sahu said that Tejashwi is out of Patna due to some urgent works.

This recent episode highlights the ongoing political tensions between the NDA and the RJD in Bihar. With the NDA accusing Yadav of neglecting his duties and the RJD defending his actions, the stage is set for further political clashes in the state assembly. It remains to be seen how this controversy will affect Yadav's political standing and the dynamics of Bihar's political landscape in the long run.