In an unexpected turn of events, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and former Bihar deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav has come under legal scrutiny in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district, after a complaint was registered regarding one of his social media posts criticizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The controversy arose from a cartoon and accompanying remarks shared by Yadav on X (formerly Twitter), which took aim at PM Modi ahead of a significant rally in Gaya, Bihar.

The allegedly objectionable post portrayed Prime Minister Modi as a shopkeeper, linguistically satirizing his rally as a "shop of rhetoric." Yadav’s message challenged the PM to account for his 11-year tenure and the National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) 20-year rule in Bihar, making pointed accusations about what he described as empty promises and political grandstanding. Such direct digital criticism has ignited fresh debate over the boundaries of free speech and political satire in India’s charged electoral climate.

The FIR was filed upon the complaint of Milind Narote, a BJP MLA from Gadchiroli, who argued that Yadav’s post was not just critical but crossed into the territory of defamation and inciting public mischief. Authorities registered the case under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including those related to promoting enmity, defamation, and statements that could provoke a breach of peace. This move signals a broader pushback against political leaders using satire and harsh criticism on social media, particularly when directed at sitting Prime Ministers.

Prime Minister Modi’s recent rally in Gaya was more than just an ordinary campaign event; it also saw the inauguration of major development projects, including new train launches and initiatives aimed at boosting local infrastructure and tourism. As the PM used his platform to critique the legacy of previous RJD and Congress governments in Bihar, Yadav’s satirical post can be viewed as a counter-narrative—a battle of words playing out both online and offline in the lead-up to crucial state elections expected later this year.