With the Bihar election just days away, the political battle over the revered socialist leader Karpoori Thakur’s legacy has escalated into a full-blown war of words. The Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), and Samajwadi Party (SP) are vying for the symbolic title of “Jan Nayak” — a label deeply associated with Thakur, the former Bihar Chief Minister and social justice icon.

Congress sparks row by calling Rahul Gandhi ‘Jan Nayak’

The controversy began when the Congress declared Rahul Gandhi as “Jan Nayak,” a move swiftly dismissed by Hindustan Awam Morcha (HAM) chief Jitan Ram Manjhi, who is part of the BJP-led alliance. “The title is given by the people… it can’t be self-assumed,” Manjhi said.

He also rejected the RJD’s claim that Tejashwi Yadav deserved the same title, arguing that it insulted the stature of Karpoori Thakur. “Karpoori Thakur ji was called ‘Jan Nayak’. What has Tejashwi done for the state?” Manjhi remarked.

BJP, JDU join in criticism

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan took a sharp dig at the opposition, asserting that “there is only one ‘Jan Nayak’ in Bihar — Bharat Ratna Karpoori Thakur ji. People will never accept anyone trying to copy him.”

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, too, weighed in. “These days, some are busy declaring themselves ‘Jan Nayak’. It is shameful to appropriate such a title,” he said in a post on X.

SP and RJD also claim the title

The Samajwadi Party joined the row with Lucknow MLA Ravidas Mehrotra saying, “All INDIA parties will decide together who is ‘Jan Nayak’. If Congress claims Rahul Gandhi, then we say Akhilesh Yadav is ‘Jan Nayak’.”

The RJD, meanwhile, continues to project Tejashwi Yadav as the people’s hero and the face of the INDIA bloc in Bihar.

Legacy politics before polling

Political analysts see Congress’s move as a strategic bid to connect with voters who revere Karpoori Thakur, especially ahead of polling next week. The BJP, however, accused the party of “title chori,” claiming it was attempting to hijack the emotional connect of Thakur’s legacy.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently visited Thakur’s native village in Samastipur to pay homage before launching his party’s campaign, underlining the continued electoral importance of the socialist leader’s legacy.

Born in 1924, Karpoori Thakur was Bihar’s first non-Congress socialist Chief Minister and introduced the state’s landmark alcohol prohibition policy. His influence continues to shape Bihar’s political identity across party lines.

The opposition Mahagathbandhan in Bihar has officially named Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) chief Mukesh Sahani as one of its deputy chief ministerial candidates, alliance leader Ashok Gehlot announced on Thursday.

Gehlot also confirmed Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav as the alliance’s chief ministerial face, ending weeks of speculation about internal rifts and indecision within the bloc.

Sahani’s role and caste equation in Bihar polls

Mukesh Sahani, 44, often referred to as the ‘Son of Mallah’, is expected to consolidate support from the Mallah, Sahani, and Nishad communities, who together represent nearly nine per cent of Bihar’s electorate. His inclusion aims to strengthen the opposition’s caste arithmetic against the ruling NDA in next month’s assembly polls.

The Mallah community—part of the larger Nishad group—has a significant presence across Bihar, particularly in the Mithilanchal and Seemanchal regions. These riverine and fishing communities have traditionally influenced outcomes in several northern constituencies.

Gehlot hinted that more deputy chief ministerial names could be announced later to accommodate other influential leaders within the alliance.

Cracks within the Congress-National Conference (NC) alliance in Jammu and Kashmir have widened just ahead of the Rajya Sabha elections. The Congress on Thursday skipped a joint legislative meeting called by NC chief Farooq Abdullah, accusing its ally of “betrayal” and sidelining it in the seat-sharing arrangement.

Congress declines NC’s offer, cites ‘unsafe seat’

The Congress had earlier opted out of both the Rajya Sabha race and the Nagrota Assembly bypoll, rejecting NC’s proposal in both cases. Tensions peaked when the NC announced three candidates for the four Rajya Sabha seats, leaving just one for the Congress — a seat the party described as “unsafe” based on its and the alliance’s strength in the Assembly.

Senior Congress leaders have alleged that the NC reneged on its assurance to Sonia Gandhi, who was promised one “safe seat” by Farooq Abdullah. The Congress, which has six MLAs in the Assembly, accused the NC of going back on that commitment.

Numbers game and looming vote

The current numbers in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly place the National Conference at 41 MLAs and the BJP at 28. The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) holds three seats, while six independent legislators are backing Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s government.
Given these figures, the NC is expected to comfortably win three seats, but the fourth — originally intended for the Congress — remains uncertain. The BJP has expressed confidence in clinching that seat.

The cracks in the alliance come as the Assembly session begins, posing a political test for Omar Abdullah, who has urged both the Congress and the PDP to unite in voting against the BJP’s candidate.