Leaders from JD(U), LJP(RV) join RJD ahead of elections

Ahead of the upcoming Bihar Assembly election, prominent faces of ruling parties on Friday (October 10, 2025) joined the Opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) in the presence of party leader Tejashwi Yadav.

Former MP Santosh Kushwaha and former MLA Rahul Sharma of Janata Dal (United), former candidate from Vaishali Assembly of Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) Ajay Kushwaha and JD(U) MP Girdhari Yadav’s son Chanakya Prakash Ranjan joined the RJD.

Of the four, two leaders belong to the Kushwaha community, one to the Yadav community, whereas Mr. Sharma is a Bhumihar who had served as an MLA from the Ghosi Assembly seat. Mr. Santosh is a two-term parliamentarian from Purnea. He won the seat in 2014 and 2019 but lost against Independent candidate Pappu Yadav in 2024.

Mr. Sharma is the second Bhumihar leader to join the RJD, following Sajeev Kumar, JD(U)’s Parbatta MLA who recently switched over.

Welcoming them into the party, Leader of the Opposition in Bihar Assembly Mr. Yadav said that the joining of the four leaders will strengthen the party.

“There is no respect for party workers and its leaders within the Janata Dal (United), and a few mindless individuals have forced the party to be run according to the BJP’s dictates. Due to the BJP’s political practices, the dilapidated and incompetent government has lost the trust and support of the people of Bihar,” Mr. Yadav said.

He went on to say, “The people of Bihar want change, and to strengthen it, people from every caste are standing with the principles of social justice and economic justice of the RJD.”

Without naming Bihar Minister Vijay Choudhary, Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh and JD(U) working president Sanjay Jha, Mr. Santosh alleged that the three individuals had hijacked the entire party, leaving behind the Backward Classes and Luv-Kush communities in the JD(U).

By inducting Kushwaha leaders into the RJD, the Opposition aims to convey that resentment within the community against the ruling alliance has intensified. RJD is also trying to break the social equation, giving space to Bhumihar leaders who have traditionally supported the BJP.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who has governed Bihar since 2005, and the Luv-Kush (Kurmi and Kushwaha – Koiri caste) communities — his core vote bank — have played a pivotal role in keeping him in power.

Mr. Santosh asserted that the Backward Classes and Luv-Kush communities have been excluded from the party’s ideology within the JD(U) and that their dignity was being challenged.

Mr. Sharma echoed the same, claiming that democracy and democratic rights were being crushed in the JD(U), and the sentiments of the party workers had no space.

“Trust has been built up by the people under Tejashwi’s leadership after the promise of jobs and employment, and the way Tejashwi spoke about providing employment to every household yesterday [Thursday (October 9)] has made up my mind to stand firmly with him and to fulfill his mission,” Mr. Sharma said.

Mr. Ajay and Mr. Ranjan also expressed happiness in joining the RJD, saying that they have come together with Mr. Yadav in view of his spirit of service and sacrifice.

“All the youth will move forward together in promoting the development of the State and youth leadership,“ Mr. Ranjan said.