THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK
Patna, Oct 26: In a significant political switch ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections, former Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) women’s wing chief Pratima Kushwaha joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday, alleging that the RJD no longer values its grassroots cadre and has become deeply divided under dynastic control.
Welcoming her into the party, BJP state president Dilip Jaiswal said that widespread nepotism and dynastic politics within the RJD and Congress have created deep frustration among their leaders, prompting many to join the BJP.
Also Read- 2003 voter list to serve as key reference in Jharkhand’s electoral roll revision
He expressed confidence that the NDA, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, will return to power in Bihar with a strong two-thirds majority.
Kushwaha said the RJD no longer reflects the ideals it once upheld under Lalu Prasad Yadav’s leadership, claiming that the party’s leadership has become fragmented and dismissive of its ground-level members.
She also criticised Tejashwi Yadav’s claims of providing jobs to Bihar’s youth, alleging that opportunities during the RJD regime came at the cost of people’s land — a reference to the alleged land-for-job scam.
She further took a dig at Tejashwi over his statements on expanding reservations, saying that the NDA government has delivered real benefits to women and backward classes, unlike what she described as symbolic gestures under RJD rule.
Also Read- Light to moderate rain likely in Jharkhand till Oct 30
Party insiders described Kushwaha’s switch as another example of growing disillusionment within the opposition ranks, as the BJP intensifies its campaign to consolidate support ahead of the polls.
