How KC Tyagi’s frank takes on ‘sensitive issues’ put JD(U) in a tough spot in NDA, cost him spokesperson post

Tyagi’s resignation comes in the backdrop of his recent articulation of some rather aggressive positions on ideological issues close to the BJP, according to sources in the JD(U). These statements on certain “sensitive issues” put the party in a difficult position within the NDA, the sources said.

“He is a very respected leader, but he had started issuing statements without asking the high command about the party line. Lateral entry, UCC etc are very sensitive issues. Strong statements issued without seeking the party leadership’s views can create trouble in the alliance,” a senior JD(U) leader told The Indian Express.

What also worked against Tyagi, a former MP, was a recent joint statement he issued with Opposition leaders on the Israel-Hamas war. “On foreign policy issues, as allies, it is a norm to go with the government. These are matters of national security and the Union Government takes a position after consideration of a lot of factors. It should not be our concern at all. But you are organising lunches with Opposition leaders on the Israel-Palestine conflict. Even that is fine as long as it is done in a personal capacity. But you are issuing joint statements with the Opposition,” said the JD(U) leader.

The party functionary, however, said there was no pressure from the BJP to remove Tyagi from the post.

JD(U) sources in Patna indicated that Tyagi had been finding it uncomfortable to defend the party on some contentious issues. “His statements on the recent issues of caste census and SC/ST sub-categorisation may not have gone down well in the party that returned to NDA this January,” said a JD(U) leader.

Another party leader in Patna said: “A small coterie of leaders has been playing a key role in influencing party matters… Under such conditions, leaders of Tyagi’s stature could have felt suffocated.”

Following Tyagi’s resignation, the party appointed senior leader Rajiv Ranjan Prasad as its new national spokesperson.

Tyagi, however, scotched rumours of his disenchantment with the new party dispensation – under working president Sanjay Kumar Jha. “So long as Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is the leader of the party, I am strongly with the JD(U),” he told The Indian Express. He remains the party’s political adviser.

On the immediate trigger for his resignation, he said: “I was very much in the new team in which Nitish Kumar is the party national president… I just felt it had been enough of doing my role, there is little to defend for the party.”

Several JD(U) leaders in Bihar said that Tyagi’s resignation as the party’s spokesperson was a big blow. “He was perhaps the only leader who could defend the party on crucial matters and its core ideology,” said a state party functionary.

Only 10 days ago, when LJP (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan expressed reservations about the UPSC advertisement on lateral entry — saying his party was “absolutely not in support” of the move — Tyagi went a step further saying the government had given a “weapon in the hands of the Opposition” and the move would make “Rahul Gandhi a champion of the depressed classes”.

While Tyagi did articulate the party position in the matter — the JD(U) sees itself as the champion of caste census and reservation for Dalits and backward classes — his words were seen as a bit harsh for an ally. The government finally withdrew the advertisement, which Tyagi said was a “victory of social justice politics led by Nitish Kumar”.

Less than a week later, Tyagi joined the Opposition in articulating the position on the Israel-Hamas conflict where the government has been doing a balancing act. Tyagi along with the SP’s Javed Ali organised a lunch for Mohammed Makram Balawi, secretary general of the League of Parliamentarians for Al Quds, where Balawi spoke about Israel’s alleged violation of international laws by targeting civilians.

Following the lunch meeting, a joint statement asking India to stop the sale of weapons to Israel was issued. It was signed by Tyagi, Ali, and MPs and leaders from the Congress and the AAP.

These statements came at a time when the JD(U) has been trying to balance asserting itself as a key ally of the BJP in a government where the latter does not have a majority of its own. The party is trying to be a trusted coalition partner to corner maximum Central benefits for Bihar ahead of the 2025 Assembly polls.

Earlier, on issues such as the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), Tyagi had articulated a more forthright position of the JD(U) than other allies.

On August 15, when the PM broached the subject of UCC once again, Tyagi said the party supported UCC but wanted a wider consultation. He said this was a position made clear by Nitish Kumar himself in his letter to the Law Commission back in 2017. The LJP (RV), on the other hand, said it would comment only after the government prepared the UCC draft.

On wrestler Vinesh Phogat losing out on an Olympic medal, Tyagi said he “suspected manipulation as part of a conspiracy”. This was an echo of the statement made by Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda.

Immediately after the Lok Sabha election results, as talks between NDA allies were on, Tyagi had articulated the JD(U) position on the demand for special status for Bihar and the problems with the Agnipath scheme.

“There is anger among voters about the scheme. Our party wants it to be discussed threadbare in the government to remove its flaws. Although our support to the NDA is unconditional, we do believe that Bihar must get special status. Following the division of the state, the hardship and the problem of unemployment it has faced can only be addressed through special status to the state,” he had said.