In a major legal setback for Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), a court in Delhi has ordered charges against RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav, wife Rabri Devi, and son Tejashwi Yadav in the IRCTC scam case. The order states that the senior leaders had “conspired” and “abused their position” when they were in public office. With just weeks until the Bihar Assembly election, discussions about political implications have begun.
Consequences for Tejashwi Yadav and RJD Leadership
Tejashwi Yadav is the de facto leader of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) in Bihar Politics. This is his first real test as leader of the RJD, as charges have now been framed against him. The charges could undermine his momentum in the following campaign and propagate a negative image of him among strategists, particularly undecided voters. Although he remains a leader in the campaign and a prominent figure in the RJD’s political strategy going into the election, the legal proceedings against him may distract from the RJD’s messaging during the election and draw considerable amounts of media attention.
Seat Sharing With Congress
The closing legal blow to Tejashwi Yadav has implications for the RJD-Congress alliance even beyond himself as a candidate. The RJD and Congress had previously discussed seat-sharing arrangements that would help them unite their party bases and win votes from opposition supporters. However, some political observers are suggesting that legal proceedings surrounding Tejashwi Yadav and his family will force the Congress to reconsider the optics of supporting a parochial alliance. This, too, could lead to varying discussions with the Congress about what they could withhold or concede during their negotiations about seats.
Overall Effect on Bihar Assembly Elections
Bihar Assembly elections are already quite contested among several parties in many constituencies. Tejashwi Yadav, “facing legal trouble,” could shape voter opinions on the election outcome in urban and semi-urban seats where governance and corruption are important issues. RJD continues to have a solid base among its constituencies, although other opposition parties may use the IRCTC case to challenge the credibility of those leaders, which could impact voter turnout and the overall outcome.
