💰 The Age-Old Saying: "Forget Father, Brother - Money is the Biggest Power"

There's a popular Hindi saying: "Baap banana bhaiya, sabse bada rupaiya" (Forget father and brother, money is the biggest master).

But in politics, there's another truth:

Power is the biggest master. And people will do ANYTHING to get it—or keep it.

The recent Bihar Assembly elections revealed a fascinating political strategy that perfectly illustrates this: Tejashwi Yadav campaigned across Bihar without using a single photo of his father, Lalu Prasad Yadav.

Not one poster. Not one banner. Not one campaign material.

His own father—completely erased from the campaign.

Why would a son hide his father's face during elections? Let me explain the calculated political game behind this decision.

🎬 Prefer Watching? Here's the Hindi Video Explanation:

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This blog is based on my YouTube video about Bihar elections and caste politics. If you prefer watching over reading, check out the Hindi video below!

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🎭 The Invisible Father: A Calculated Political Move

The Strategy Behind Tejashwi's Decision

During the Bihar election campaign, Tejashwi Yadav made a conscious, strategic choice:

Not a single campaign poster featured his father, Lalu Prasad Yadav.

What Was Missing Why It Matters
No father-son photos Traditional Indian politics thrives on family imagery
No legacy references Usually, sons proudly showcase their father's achievements
No joint rallies Family appearances generate emotional votes
Complete erasure As if Lalu Prasad didn't exist politically

What Was Missing	Why It Matters
No father-son photos	Traditional Indian politics thrives on family imagery
No legacy references	Usually, sons proudly showcase their father's achievements
No joint rallies	Family appearances generate emotional votes
Complete erasure	As if Lalu Prasad didn't exist politically

This wasn't an accident. It was a deliberate strategy.

🤔 Why Hide Your Own Father?

The Burden of Perception

Tejashwi Yadav's team understood a harsh political reality:

Lalu Prasad Yadav's image had become a liability, not an asset.

The Three Reasons:

1. Corruption Cases

Lalu Prasad Yadav is currently serving sentences in multiple corruption cases:

Fodder Scam (₹950 crore scam)
Multiple court convictions
Imprisoned multiple times
Symbol of corruption for opposition

2. "Jungle Raj" Allegations

During Lalu's rule (1990-2005), Bihar became synonymous with:

Law and order breakdown
Kidnappings for ransom
Caste-based violence
Administrative collapse
The infamous term: "Jungle Raj"

3. Fear of Voter Backlash

Tejashwi's strategists calculated:

WITH Lalu's photos: Voters remember corruption and chaos
WITHOUT Lalu's photos: Focus shifts to Tejashwi's promises

They chose to make Lalu invisible.

🎯 The Psychology of Political Image Management

What This Strategy Reveals

This decision exposes a fundamental truth about modern politics:

Politicians will sacrifice anything—even family pride—for power.

The Calculation:

Father's Legacy + Corruption Image = Voter Rejection
                     ↓
            Hide Father's Face
                     ↓
        Clean Slate for Son = Better Chances

But here's the problem: This strategy is built on deception.

🔍 The Hypocrisy Exposed

Contradiction #1: Still the Party President

The Irony:

Lalu Prasad Yadav is National President of RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal)
He still controls party decisions
He still picks candidates
He still holds ultimate power

But his son hides his photos?

Translation: "Use father's power, hide father's face."

Contradiction #2: Legacy When Convenient

During campaigns, Tejashwi claims:

We stand for social justice (Lalu's slogan)
We represent backward classes (Lalu's base)
We fight for the poor (Lalu's positioning)

But doesn't show Lalu's face?

You can't have it both ways:

Either own your father's legacy completely
Or distance yourself completely

Cherry-picking is dishonest.

👔 The T-Shirt Politics: Another Disconnect

The Wardrobe Strategy

During the campaign, Tejashwi Yadav consistently wore:

✅ Colorful T-shirts
✅ Casual jeans
✅ Modern, urban look

The Problem:

Bihar's voters—especially in rural areas—don't connect with this.

What Bihar Voters Respect What Tejashwi Wore
Traditional kurta-pajama Western T-shirts
Simple, relatable attire Branded casual wear
Connection to roots Urban disconnect
Humility through dress Style over substance

What Bihar Voters Respect	What Tejashwi Wore
Traditional kurta-pajama	Western T-shirts
Simple, relatable attire	Branded casual wear
Connection to roots	Urban disconnect
Humility through dress	Style over substance

His previous attire was more relatable. People saw him as one of them.

Now? He looked like a Delhi influencer, not a Bihar leader.

🎨 The Hollowness of "Social Justice"

The Promise vs. Reality

For decades, Lalu Prasad's party claimed:

🎯 We fight for social justice
🎯 We represent the oppressed
🎯 We give voice to the voiceless

But the reality?

If your own "social justice" was genuine:

Why hide your father's face?
Why be ashamed of your own legacy?
Why play image games instead of addressing real issues?

The Verdict:

It was always hollow. It was always deceptive. It was always a facade.

And Bihar's voters finally saw through it.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The Family Feud: A Bigger Problem

The Internal Conflict

Beyond the campaign strategy, there's an even darker reality:

Lalu Prasad's family is reportedly fighting internally.

The Stakes:

What's at Risk Why It Matters
Family unity Internal conflicts weaken political power
Party future Who controls RJD after Lalu?
Power distribution Multiple siblings vying for leadership
Public perception Voters see chaos, not stability

What's at Risk	Why It Matters
Family unity	Internal conflicts weaken political power
Party future	Who controls RJD after Lalu?
Power distribution	Multiple siblings vying for leadership
Public perception	Voters see chaos, not stability

⚠️ Why Bihar Doesn't Want Political Family Drama

The Public's Concern

Bihar's voters don't want:

❌ Family disputes becoming public spectacle
❌ Sibling rivalry determining state's future
❌ Power struggles overshadowing governance
❌ Dynasty politics becoming a soap opera

The Real Danger:

If political families publicly fight over power:

Good people won't enter politics
- They'll fear being caught in family feuds
- They'll see politics as dirty, dangerous

It becomes a cautionary tale
- "See what happened to Lalu's family?"
- "Politics destroys even blood relations"

Voters lose faith in democracy
- If it's all about family power, why vote?
- Democracy becomes monarchy

Sets a terrible precedent
- Other political families follow suit
- Power becomes inheritance, not service

🎯 The Real Power Game: What Actually Matters

Beyond Faces and Photos

The Bihar elections taught us several lessons:

Lesson 1: Perception Management Has Limits

You can't permanently hide reality:

Hide father's photos? People still remember
Change your clothes? People see through it
Rebrand yourself? Your track record follows

Authenticity beats image management.

Lesson 2: Voters Are Smarter Than Politicians Think

Bihar's electorate understood:

Tejashwi hiding Lalu = Admission of guilt
New clothes = Fake transformation
Social justice slogans = Empty promises

They voted accordingly.

Lesson 3: Power Without Principles Fails

Lalu's party had power for years:

Dominated Bihar politics
Controlled caste equations
Built massive vote bank

But without:

Development
Governance
Honesty
Vision

Result? Power evaporated when voters wanted substance.

Lesson 4: Family Politics is Fragile

When politics is family business:

Succession fights destroy party
Internal conflicts become public
Personal disputes affect governance
Legacy becomes burden

Institutional parties survive. Family parties collapse.

💡 What Should Political Leaders Learn?

For Current Politicians:

1. Own Your Legacy

If your father built the party, honor him
If he made mistakes, acknowledge them
Don't hide—explain and move forward

2. Connect Authentically

Wear what your voters relate to
Speak their language
Live among them, not above them

3. Focus on Work, Not Image

Deliver development
Show results
Let work speak, not posters

4. Keep Family Private

Don't air disputes publicly
Separate family from politics
Institutionalize your party

For Aspiring Politicians:

Don't let political family dramas scare you away from public service.

Good people MUST enter politics because:

✅ Someone needs to change the system
✅ Voters deserve better options
✅ Democracy needs fresh blood
✅ Power shouldn't stay with same families

If good people fear politics, only bad people will rule.

🗳️ The Bigger Picture: Democracy vs. Dynasty

The Fundamental Question

Should politics be inherited or earned?

Dynasty Politics Merit-Based Politics
Son inherits father's party Anyone can rise through work
Family name matters most Track record matters most
Internal succession fights Democratic candidate selection
Power = birthright Power = public trust
Corruption continues generations Fresh start with each leader

Dynasty Politics	Merit-Based Politics
Son inherits father's party	Anyone can rise through work
Family name matters most	Track record matters most
Internal succession fights	Democratic candidate selection
Power = birthright	Power = public trust
Corruption continues generations	Fresh start with each leader

Bihar voters are slowly choosing merit over dynasty.

This is healthy for democracy.

🎭 The Advisors' Role: Outside Interference

The Problem with External Strategists

The blog mentions: "Outsiders interfere and give advice, which they blindly follow."

This is a critical issue:

Modern political campaigns rely on:

Delhi-based consultants
Foreign-trained strategists
PR agencies from metros
Social media experts

The problem?

They don't understand ground reality:

Rural Bihar's psyche
Caste dynamics
Traditional values
What actually moves voters

Result: Strategies like "hide father's photo" and "wear T-shirts" that backfire.

Political leaders must:

Trust local cadre more
Understand their own base
Don't blindly follow consultants
Use own judgment

📊 Quick Summary

Issue Problem Lesson
Hiding father's photos Admission of liability Can't run from legacy
T-shirt politics Disconnect from voters Authenticity matters
Hollow social justice Exposed as facade Work speaks louder than slogans
Family conflicts Weakens party, scares good people Institutionalize politics
Outside advisors Don't understand ground reality Trust local wisdom
Power games Eventually voters see through it Substance over strategy

Issue	Problem	Lesson
Hiding father's photos	Admission of liability	Can't run from legacy
T-shirt politics	Disconnect from voters	Authenticity matters
Hollow social justice	Exposed as facade	Work speaks louder than slogans
Family conflicts	Weakens party, scares good people	Institutionalize politics
Outside advisors	Don't understand ground reality	Trust local wisdom
Power games	Eventually voters see through it	Substance over strategy

💬 One-Line Summary:

When politicians hide their own father's face to win elections, it's not strategy—it's an admission that their entire legacy was built on deception, not development.

🎯 Final Thoughts: Choose Substance Over Smoke

Dear Politicians,

Stop playing these games:

Hiding faces
Changing clothes
Rebranding constantly
Image management over governance

Voters aren't fools anymore.

They want:

✅ Development
✅ Honesty
✅ Competence
✅ Results

Give them that, and you won't need to hide anyone's photo.

Dear Voters,

Don't fall for:

❌ Cosmetic changes
❌ New faces with old systems
❌ Dynasty politics repackaged
❌ Slogans without action

Demand:

✅ Track record
✅ Concrete plans
✅ Accountability
✅ Character

And most importantly:

Don't let political family dramas discourage good people from entering politics.

Democracy needs you.

🔥 Your Turn: Reflect and Act

Questions to consider:

✅ Should politicians be ashamed of their parents' legacy?
✅ Is hiding family photos honesty or deception?
✅ Do family conflicts belong in public politics?
✅ Would YOU enter politics seeing such power games?
✅ What kind of leaders do we truly need?

Share your thoughts in comments below! 💬

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💼 Political Power Games: When Family Photos Disappear from Campaigns (What Bihar Elections Taught Us)