As Bihar gears up for a high-stakes assembly election, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has launched a sharp offensive against the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), accusing its chief Lalu Prasad Yadav of disrespecting Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and alienating Dalit voters. The controversy stems from a viral video showing Ambedkar’s portrait placed near Lalu’s feet during his birthday celebration—an act the BJP has labeled a “deliberate insult” to the Dalit icon.
🔥 BJP’s Dalit Outreach Strategy
The BJP, which has historically struggled to counter the RJD’s Muslim-Yadav vote bank, is now aggressively championing Dalit causes to expand its social base. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during a rally in Siwan, accused the RJD of holding Dalits in contempt and claimed that “Ambedkar was against dynasty rule”, taking a veiled swipe at Lalu’s political legacy.
“They placed Babasaheb’s portrait at their feet. Bihar will never forgive this insult,” Modi declared.
The BJP’s renewed focus on Dalits comes amid its efforts to neutralize the Opposition’s anti-Dalit narrative and consolidate support among Paswan, Ravidas, and Musahar communities, which together form nearly 20% of Bihar’s population.
🧭 RJD’s Historical Dalit Disconnect
Despite Lalu Yadav’s early political activism in support of Dalit rights, the RJD has long struggled to win over Dalit voters. Analysts note that the party’s Muslim-Yadav-centric candidate selection and token appointments—such as naming Ramai Ram as state president in 2000—have failed to translate into meaningful Dalit representation.
“Dalits never really rallied behind the RJD, even during its peak,” political observers note, citing the rise of Ram Vilas Paswan and Jitan Ram Manjhi as key Dalit leaders outside the RJD fold.
🗳️ Political Fallout and Election Stakes
The Ambedkar portrait controversy has triggered widespread outrage, with the State Scheduled Caste Commission issuing a notice to Lalu Yadav and BJP leaders demanding a public apology. With 38 reserved SC seats in the 243-member Bihar Assembly, the BJP sees an opportunity to erode RJD’s dominance by positioning itself as the true custodian of Dalit interests.
Stay tuned for more updates on Bihar’s evolving political landscape.
