RJD's Soul-Searching Begins After Stunning Bihar Election Setback
The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has launched a comprehensive review exercise to understand the reasons behind its catastrophic performance in the recent Bihar Assembly elections. The party's tally plummeted to a mere 25 seats from 75 in the 2020 elections, a devastating blow for the principal opposition party in the state.
Identifying the Fault Lines: From Ticket Distribution to Sabotage
The review process, led by Bihar RJD president Mangani Lal Mandal, involves meetings with candidates who lost by narrow margins. Early feedback has pointed to several critical failures. A primary concern is the "wrong selection" of several candidates, a issue that was foreshadowed by dramatic protests even before the polls. Party leaders also suspect "sabotage" by some party workers in key constituencies, contributing to unexpected losses.
Another significant factor identified is the overwhelming impact of the Nitish Kumar government's Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana (MMRY), popularly known as the 'Dashazari' scheme. Under this initiative, 1.51 crore prospective women entrepreneurs received Rs 10,000 each on the eve of the elections. RJD spokesperson Mrityunjay Tiwari described the direct transfer as an "electoral ploy" that had a "sweeping impact," even dividing the voting choices within families.
Cultural Missteps and the 'Green Gamchha' Backlash
Beyond conventional political analysis, the RJD is also examining more unconventional reasons for its poor performance. A party functionary revealed that several Bhojpuri singers released "offensive" songs during the campaign without party authorization. These songs allegedly projected an aggressive party image or portrayed the RJD in a "poor light," and the party has since issued notices to these artists.
Furthermore, the party received feedback that a motorcycle rally featuring youths wearing green gamchhas (the color of the RJD flag) did not resonate well with non-Yadav EBC (Extremely Backward Class) voters. This display reportedly evoked a sense of fear and alienation among a voter base that was traditionally supportive of the RJD, playing into the BJP's campaign narrative about a return to "jungle raj."
Underestimating Key Factors and the Road Ahead
Internally, the RJD has admitted to a major miscalculation: underestimating the impact of Asaduddin Owaisi's AIMIM. The party won five seats in the Muslim-dominated Seemanchal region, a development that a senior RJD leader conceded led to both religious and caste polarization, further fracturing the Mahagathbandhan's vote bank.
As Tejashwi Prasad Yadav works to rebuild party morale, this introspective review highlights the multitude of challenges that led to the RJD's electoral collapse. The combination of strategic errors, a popular government scheme, cultural missteps, and a failure to accurately gauge the political landscape has left the party with a monumental task of rebuilding its connection with the people of Bihar.
