In a fiery election rally that transported political discourse back to the 1990s, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched a scathing attack on Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) patriarch Lalu Prasad Yadav during a BJP campaign event in Bihar's Samastipur district.
The Uttar Pradesh leader resurrected one of India's most contentious political episodes—the 1990 stoppage of BJP veteran LK Advani's Ram Rath Yatra in Bihar—labeling it as Lalu Yadav's "cardinal sin" against the Hindu community. Adityanath's remarks come as the Bharatiya Janata Party intensifies its campaign for the crucial 2025 Bihar Assembly elections.
The Historical Context: Why 1990 Still Matters in 2025
Adityanath reminded the gathered crowd that when Advani's chariot journeyed toward Ayodhya three decades ago, it was Lalu Prasad Yadav—then serving as Bihar's chief minister—who ordered the arrest of the BJP leader and halted the procession in Samastipur. "The same sin is now haunting his political legacy," Adityanath declared, connecting historical events to contemporary political narratives.
The UP CM contrasted this historical decision with current political dynamics, suggesting that while Lalu Yadav obstructed the religious-political movement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi ultimately fulfilled the aspirations surrounding the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
Strategic Timing: BJP's Bihar Electoral Calculations
Political analysts suggest Adityanath's decision to revive the three-decade-old incident serves multiple strategic purposes:
- Reinforcing BJP's consistent pro-Hindutva stance among traditional voters
- Contrasting BJP's "promise-keeping" credibility with opposition's "obstructionist" history
- Mobilizing sentiment around religious identity in key constituencies
- Undermining RJD's attempts to project secular, development-focused image
The speech strategically positions the BJP as the guardian of Hindu interests while painting the RJD as antagonistic to religious aspirations.
Beyond Religion: Development and Governance Narrative
While the Ram Rath Yatra comments dominated headlines, Adityanath also addressed contemporary governance issues. He highlighted the "double-engine government" model—where BJP rules at both center and state—contrasting it with what he described as RJD's "jungle raj" characterized by lawlessness and corruption.
"The choice before Bihar is clear," Adityanath asserted, "between BJP's development model and RJD's dysfunctional governance."
Electoral Implications for 2025 Bihar Battle
With Bihar's 243-seat assembly up for grabs in 2025, the political stakes are exceptionally high. The BJP appears to be crafting a multi-pronged strategy:
- Mobilizing core Hindu voters through historical religious references
- Appealing to youth through development and employment promises
- Contrasting Modi's leadership with what they frame as Lalu family's dynastic politics
- Leverating popular BJP chief ministers like Yogi for campaign impact
As the election battle intensifies, historical references like the Ram Rath Yatra incident are likely to feature prominently in BJP's campaign rhetoric, setting the stage for a fiercely contested election that blends religious symbolism with governance debates.
