Major jolt to Lalu and Tejashwi before Bihar polls, two MLAs switch sides to PM Modi’s camp

Patna (The Uttam Hindu): Just before the Bihar Assembly elections, a spate of resignations has begun pouring in from the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). In a major blow to former Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav, two more party MLAs, Vibha Devi from Nawada and Prakash Veer from Rajauli (reserved), have submitted their resignations to Assembly Speaker Nand Kishore Yadav.

These two MLAs, who have been disgruntled with the party's top leadership since the Lok Sabha elections, recently made their intentions clear by sharing the stage at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's event in Gaya. Since then, speculation about their break with the RJD has been virtually confirmed. According to sources, both leaders may soon join the NDA, although an official announcement is yet to be made.

Vibha Devi's departure is being considered a major blow to the RJD. She is the wife of former minister and strongman Rajvallabh Yadav and was elected MLA from Nawada on an RJD ticket in 2020. She and her supporters were upset with the party's decision to give Shravan Kushwaha the ticket for the 2025 Lok Sabha elections. She was also accused of not openly supporting the RJD candidate, which angered the party leadership, especially Tejashwi Yadav.

Meanwhile, Vibha Devi's closeness to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) began to grow. Her presence on stage at Prime Minister Modi's Gaya rally in August 2025 caused a stir within the RJD. It is believed that she took this step due to fears of losing her party ticket and her family's favorable relations with the NDA. She is now considered a strong contender for a BJP or JDU ticket from the Nawada seat.

It should be noted that prior to these two resignations, RJD MLAs Sangeeta Kumari, Bharat Bind, and Chetan Anand also left the party. This continuous split since the Lok Sabha elections poses a serious crisis for the party ahead of the assembly elections