Tej Pratap Yadav Advocates for Priyanka Gandhi's Leadership in Congress

Tej Pratap Yadav has publicly endorsed Priyanka Gandhi for the leadership of the Congress party, expressing skepticism about Rahul Gandhi's capabilities. His remarks come in light of recent political changes in Bihar, where Nitish Kumar has stepped down. Yadav's comments reflect ongoing concerns regarding internal democracy within Congress, as former leaders have also criticized Rahul Gandhi's leadership style. This article delves into the dynamics of Congress leadership and the implications of these political shifts.

By Narendra Chaudhary Apr 21, 2026, 12:27 IST

Tej Pratap Yadav's Call for Change in Congress Leadership

On Tuesday, Tej Pratap Yadav, the founder of the Jan Shakti Party, expressed his support for Priyanka Gandhi as the leader of the Congress party, casting doubt on Rahul Gandhi's capability to lead. He emphasized that Priyanka Gandhi possesses qualities akin to Indira Gandhi, suggesting that she is the only one capable of steering the party effectively. Yadav criticized Rahul Gandhi's approach, stating that he is not suited for leadership, especially after the recent political shifts in Bihar, where Nitish Kumar stepped down and another chief minister took over.

This statement from Yadav comes in response to Rahul Gandhi's recent comments, where he labeled the Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar as 'caught in a compromise' following his exit from state politics. The BJP's Samrat Chaudhary has now taken over as the Chief Minister of Bihar. This isn't the first time Rahul Gandhi's leadership has been questioned; earlier this year, former Congress leader Shakeel Ahmed criticized the lack of internal democracy within the party, alleging that Rahul Gandhi aims to marginalize senior leaders.

Ahmed further targeted Rahul Gandhi, claiming he feels uncomfortable collaborating with seasoned and popular leaders. He noted that many within the Congress have been active in politics long before Rahul's entry. Ahmed remarked that he won his fifth election on the same day Rahul won his first, indicating a significant experience gap. He believes Rahul struggles to engage with those who do not view him as their leader, a sentiment he has held for some time but refrained from voicing while being part of the party.

Additionally, Ahmed accused Rahul Gandhi of harboring a sense of superiority due to his lineage from the Nehru-Gandhi family, asserting that decisions made by Rahul are final within the Congress party, reflecting a lack of internal democratic processes.