Lalu Prasad Yadav Re-elected as RJD National President Ahead of Bihar Elections

The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) announced on Tuesday that its founder, Lalu Prasad Yadav, has been re-elected as the national president of the party. During a press conference, the party's returning officer, Ramchandra Purbe, stated that Yadav was the sole candidate who submitted his nomination a day prior and was found eligible during the verification process. This reappointment comes at a crucial time as Bihar is set to hold assembly elections later this year.

Tejashwi Yadav has emerged as the face of the party in electoral campaigns and is considered a strong contender for the chief minister position. However, Lalu appears hesitant to delegate party responsibilities to anyone else. In the 2020 assembly elections, Tejashwi was prominently featured, leading the campaign and appearing prominently on party posters, although the Grand Alliance fell short of victory. This time, the party seems to be adopting a dual leadership strategy, allowing Tejashwi to lead on the ground while Lalu retains symbolic authority. At 78, Lalu may not be able to campaign actively across the state, but his presence as national president is viewed as a stabilizing force in a politically charged environment.

The decision to retain him also signals that the party is not yet ready to formally hand over the reins, even though the younger generation is increasingly managing day-to-day politics. In response to Lalu Yadav's nomination for the RJD presidency, Union Minister Nityanand Rai remarked, "Lalu Yadav has buried the RJD by becoming its national president for the 13th time... He has demonstrated that the party cannot move beyond nepotism and is mired in corruption."