Patna, Bihar — Viral Video Sparks Debate: Drunk or Health Issue?
A video clip of Tejashwi Yadav, Leader of Opposition in the Bihar Assembly and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader, went viral this week after users on social media shared footage of him during a legislative session where, according to some members of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), he appeared to be “unstable” and struggled during his speech in the Assembly.
In the video circulating online, Yadav can be seen trying to speak during the Assembly’s proceedings, but his delivery and pauses led some political rivals to suggest he might have been under the influence of alcohol — a claim that immediately caught public attention.
However, critics and independent observers have pointed out that such interpretations are politically motivated and lacking verified evidence, especially since similar past viral clips about Yadav’s behaviour have been debunked.
🔍 What the Social Media Claims Say
The viral footage triggered a flurry of posts claiming Yadav was either:
These claims gained traction quickly on platforms like YouTube and X (formerly Twitter), leading to widespread discussion among Bihar’s politically engaged audience.
🧠 Context & Reactions
Opposition leaders within the Assembly — particularly from the NDA — publicly questioned Yadav’s condition, saying his pauses and delivery raised concerns about his alertness during official business. This added fuel to a political debate rather than offering any medical conclusion.
Meanwhile, political allies of Yadav and independent commentators have stressed that:
Viral clips can be misleading without full context or expert assessment,
Prior viral videos suggesting intoxication were shown to be edited or slowed down, creating a false impression of slurred speech. Fact-checks have confirmed that such alterations do not reflect the original footage or actual state of the speaker.
🧾 No Official Confirmation of Health Issue or Intoxication
At the time of reporting, neither a medical report nor an official statement from Yadav’s office has confirmed that he was under the influence of alcohol or suffering from any health problem during the video moment in question.
Experts in media literacy note that short clips online are often taken out of context and may not accurately reflect a person’s physical or mental state. Without full unedited footage and corroborating evidence, it is not possible to definitively conclude that Yadav was drunk or unwell.
📌 Political Climate Adds to Controversy
This viral video comes amid heightened political tensions in Bihar’s Assembly, where debates over language issues and legislative business have been intensely contested. Recently, there were broader clashes between RJD and JDU members over deliberations in the House, drawing further public and media scrutiny.
The viral video has thus become a flashpoint in political discourse rather than a confirmed indicator of any personal issue, amplifying existing partisan divisions within the state’s politics.
