In a heated political exchange in Bihar, senior JD(U) leader and Rural Works Minister Ashok Choudhary on June 16, 2025, lashed out at Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav, accusing him of hypocrisy and double standards after the RJD leader alleged that the ruling NDA government was indulging in favouritism by appointing relatives of party leaders to various state commissions.

The trigger was Tejashwi Yadav's statement on June 15, where he ridiculed the NDA’s appointment of relatives — particularly sons-in-law — and sarcastically demanded the formation of a "Jamai Aayog" (sons-in-law commission) to formalise these adjustments. He even produced appointment letters and names of those allegedly favoured.

Ashok Choudhary, whose son-in-law Sayan Kunal has been appointed as a member of the Bihar State Board of Religious Trusts (BSBRT), dismissed the allegations by calling Tejashwi’s comment "the pot calling the kettle black".

“Tejashwi Yadav should practice what he preaches. Whose son is he? What qualifications does he have? How did his mother, Rabri Devi, become the Chief Minister?” Choudhary asked, taking direct aim at the Yadav family’s political legacy.

Defending Appointments with Merit

Choudhary defended his son-in-law's appointment by stating that Sayan Kunal is the son of Acharya Kishore Kunal, a well-respected figure in Bihar who has established multiple hospitals, including a cancer hospital.

“Sayan has joined the family only one and a half years ago. He comes from a background of public service. Everyone in Bihar knows Kunal Saheb,” Choudhary said.

He further questioned Tejashwi’s moral authority to lecture others, reminding the public that two of Tejashwi's sisters hold prominent positions — one as a sitting MP and another who contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

RJD’s Allegations of Nepotism

Tejashwi Yadav, on his part, listed several appointments that he claimed show rampant nepotism in the NDA government:

• Mrinal Paswan, son-in-law of the late LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan, appointed Chairman of Bihar Scheduled Castes Commission.

• Devendra Manjhi, son-in-law of HAM(S) chief Jitan Ram Manjhi, appointed Vice-Chairman of the same Commission.

• Sayan Kunal, Choudhary’s son-in-law, appointed to the BSBRT.

• Rashmi Rekha Sinha, wife of CM’s Principal Secretary Deepak Kumar, appointed to the Bihar State Women Commission (BSWC) — allegedly with her identity hidden in the official notification.

• Two daughters of JD(U) working president Sanjay Kumar Jha, appointed as Advocate-on-Record panel counsel in the Supreme Court for the central government.

“Why hide identities if there is merit?”

Tejashwi questioned why the government felt the need to hide relationships in official notifications if these appointments were purely merit-based.

“Why was Deepak Kumar’s wife’s name published using her father’s name instead of her husband’s?” he asked, implying an intent to conceal nepotism.

Tejashwi went further, questioning:

• How many officers’ wives have been given government jobs?

• How many officers’ children are running consultancies tied to government work?

• How many have investments abroad, or sent children abroad for education?

These allegations paint a picture of a tight inner circle where positions and privileges are passed down to family members — something that both the ruling NDA and the Opposition RJD are being accused of.

Ashok Choudhary Calls Out Tejashwi’s Double Standards

In response, Ashok Choudhary accused Tejashwi Yadav of duplicity.

“People who live in glass houses should not throw stones at others. What he says is sheer double standards. The ironic accuser is applying different rules to different people.”

Choudhary implied that if nepotism is being alleged against NDA leaders now, the same could easily be said about the Yadav family’s rule during RJD governments in the past. He pointed to Rabri Devi's elevation as CM and the political careers of Tejashwi and his siblings as examples.

Political War of Words Intensifies in Bihar

This exchange is a continuation of a larger narrative battle in Bihar, as both NDA and RJD seek to paint the other as corrupt, dynastic, and unethical in public service.

Tejashwi Yadav has consistently branded the Nitish Kumar-led government as regressive and unethical, particularly when it comes to governance appointments. His sarcastic proposal for a "sons-in-law commission" has garnered significant media attention and resonated with youth voters frustrated with cronyism and lack of meritocracy.

However, NDA leaders are retaliating by highlighting the RJD’s own legacy of dynastic politics, especially how power has remained concentrated in the Yadav family for decades.

Beyond Allegations: Who’s Winning the Narrative?

• RJD wants to dominate the conversation by projecting the NDA as out of touch, mired in favouritism, and functioning through backdoor appointments.

• JD(U) and BJP counter this by pointing to Tejashwi’s own dynastic privileges, and by arguing that many of the appointments are based on merit and experience.

Public Perception and Electoral Stakes

These kinds of debates are politically significant in Bihar, where issues of caste, family lineage, and access to government jobs hold major electoral weight. With 2025 State Assembly elections on the horizon, every appointment, remark, and media exchange becomes part of a wider perception battle.

Voters, particularly the youth, are closely watching how leaders justify appointments — whether through merit or family connections. Both sides risk losing credibility if they are seen as merely blaming each other without reforming the system.

Conclusion

Ashok Choudhary’s counterattack on Tejashwi Yadav over nepotism marks a sharp escalation in Bihar’s ongoing political tussle. His remarks — “the pot calling the kettle black” — encapsulate the deep mutual distrust and accusation of double standards that define Bihar’s current political discourse.

As the war of words continues, it is increasingly evident that both ruling and opposition parties must come forward with transparent guidelines and fair appointment practices if they hope to convince the people that their commitment is to governance and not favouritism.

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