By The Sampadak Express
Politics in Bihar, much like in other Indian states, remains complex and personality-driven. As the state gears up for its crucial assembly elections later this year, old political players are once again taking center stage. And now, in a move that has sparked fresh debate, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has once again handed over the reins to its patriarch Lalu Prasad Yadav. He has been elected, unopposed, as the party’s national president for the 13th consecutive term. The formal announcement will be made during the party’s upcoming national council meeting.
But this development raises some pressing questions:
1. Is it prudent to entrust such an important position to an ailing 78-year-old leader with a history of serious health issues?
2. Has the party failed to build a new leadership base?
3. Is Lalu’s elevation once again a calculated move to boost Tejashwi Yadav’s prospects in the upcoming polls?
Let’s explore the reasons behind this decision in The Sampadak Express special report.
Lalu Yadav: The Face of RJD Since 1997
Since the formation of the RJD on July 5, 1997, Lalu Prasad Yadav has remained its undisputed leader. Despite significant health setbacks including a kidney transplant in Singapore and his visibly reduced public and political activity, Lalu has never relinquished the national president’s post.
During the previous state elections, Lalu stayed away from the campaign due to health issues, and that arguably cost the RJD dearly. His younger son, Tejashwi Yadav, took charge but narrowly missed out on the chief minister’s post. Since then, Tejashwi has emerged as the party’s primary face but Lalu remains its symbolic anchor.
RJD Is Synonymous with Lalu Yadav
Back in 1997, Lalu Yadav, along with Raghunath Prasad Singh, Kanti Singh, and 25 other MPs, launched RJD in Delhi. Over the past 28 years, the party’s identity has become inseparable from Lalu’s persona. For many loyalists, RJD is Lalu Yadav.
Even though Tejashwi has emerged as a capable leader and now spearheads party operations, Lalu’s legacy continues to drive grassroots support and party cohesion.
Lalu Yadav’s Deep Roots in Bihar Politics
Lalu’s political journey began as a student leader in 1970 when he was elected President of the Patna University Students’ Union. By 1977, he was elected to the Lok Sabha as a Janata Party MP at just 29 years old. His rustic appeal and ability to connect with rural and marginalized communities made him a formidable political force. He became Bihar’s chief minister in 1990 and remained at the center of the state’s political narrative for decades.
He became a national icon after stopping LK Advani’s Rath Yatra and was seen as a hero by secular forces. However, his tenure also invited criticism caste-based favoritism, lawlessness, and bureaucratic interference allegedly flourished, prompting an exodus of professionals from the state and exacerbating its underdevelopment.
Lalu’s Continued Mass Appeal
Despite legal battles and jail time over the fodder scam, Lalu Yadav’s mass appeal has remained intact. In fact, during UPA-I, RJD was the second-largest party with 22 MPs. Lalu served as Railways Minister from 2004 to 2009 and claimed to have financially turned around Indian Railways during his tenure.
Post-2004, however, RJD’s national clout declined. It lost Bihar to JD(U) in 2005, its Lok Sabha tally shrank in 2009 and 2014, and it drew a blank in 2019. In 2024, the party recovered slightly, winning four seats.
Still, Lalu’s resilience in the face of political and personal adversity makes him a towering figure. With Tejashwi as the operational leader, Lalu’s symbolic presence could play a crucial role in uniting the party and its voter base ahead of the 2025 elections.
Why Has No Second-Rung Leader Emerged?
Despite having a presence in 27 states, RJD has never seen any national president other than Lalu Yadav. Why? Political observers point to a pattern internal leadership is confined to family circles, and when not, tickets go to wealthy outsiders rather than dedicated grassroots workers.
While other senior leaders like Ram Kripal Yadav and Shyam Rajak were once trusted aides, they left due to the growing dominance of dynasty politics. This is not unique to RJD; most regional parties in India suffer from a lack of internal democracy and succession planning. Even national parties barring a few like the Left tend to follow this top-down leadership model.
Opposition Slams Move as ‘Dynastic’ and ‘Undemocratic’
Lalu’s re-nomination has given fresh ammunition to opposition parties, who allege that RJD has become a personal property rather than a political institution. Critics argue that if the outcome is always pre-decided, why go through the motions of a nomination?
Opponents have gone as far as calling Lalu the “Father of Crime” or “Gabbar Singh of Bihar,” in what appears to be an indirect attack on Tejashwi. Since Tejashwi enjoys a relatively clean image, critics use Lalu as a proxy to target his political heir.
Can Tejashwi Survive Without Lalu?
While Tejashwi Yadav has effectively managed party affairs in his father’s absence and made a name for himself, there’s still a perception that his political weight largely stems from Lalu’s endorsement. The 2025 assembly election will be a true test of his independent strength.
In the 2020 polls, RJD won 75 seats with 23.11% vote share, narrowly missing out on power. BJP secured 74 seats (19.46%), while JD(U) trailed with 43 seats (15.39%).
Given this narrow gap, the RJD seems determined not to leave anything to chance this time and reinstating Lalu as party president could be seen as a strategic move to shore up traditional support bases and avoid past mistakes.
Conclusion: Lalu’s Return Symbolic or Strategic?
Reappointing Lalu Yadav as the RJD national president may not signal a change in the party’s operational leadership but it does reflect the enduring symbolism and mass connect that Lalu continues to command. As Bihar inches closer to its next electoral showdown, the party seems to believe that the old warhorse still has one more battle left in him.
Whether this move will consolidate support or reflect a lack of internal vision only time and the 2025 verdict will tell.
