In a scathing attack ahead of the Bihar assembly elections, BJP MP Anurag Thakur accused RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav and the Congress of attempting to revive the lawlessness and corruption associated with the infamous “jungle raj” era under Lalu Prasad Yadav. Speaking at a youth congregation in the Rajnagar assembly segment, Thakur targeted both the party and its leadership, claiming they had deliberately omitted Lalu Prasad’s images from party posters and banners in an effort to erase public memory of Bihar’s turbulent past.

“Tejashwi Yadav should not misconceive that people will forget the excesses of the corrupt ‘jungle raj’ if he removes the image of Lalu Prasad from banners and posters,” Thakur said. The BJP MP accused the RJD and Congress of attempting to revive a period marked by rampant crime, including kidnapping, illegal arms factories, and contract killings.

Allegations of Exploiting the Poor

Thakur further claimed that Tejashwi Yadav’s family, while presenting themselves as champions of the poor and backward classes, had in fact exploited the very communities they claimed to support. “Under the guise of looking after the welfare of the poor and backward classes, the family of Tejashwi Yadav defrauded them,” he said. He alleged that generations of Bihar’s development had been set back by the misgovernance of the Yadav family, pushing the state “100 years back” without offering any apology or taking responsibility.

He added that instead of providing railway jobs and other opportunities to Bihar’s youth, Lalu Prasad Yadav and his family had allegedly misappropriated public resources and grabbed land, leaving the state’s development stagnated.

Political Messaging Ahead of Elections

Thakur’s remarks appear aimed at consolidating the BJP’s narrative ahead of the elections, portraying the RJD as a party tied to a corrupt legacy while positioning the BJP as a force for governance, development, and law and order. By highlighting issues such as historical misgovernance, crime, and alleged exploitation of the poor, Thakur sought to appeal to voters’ concerns over security and economic opportunity.

The attack comes amid intense campaigning across Bihar, where the RJD, led by Tejashwi Yadav, and the Congress are challenging the BJP and its allies, claiming to offer a development-focused alternative. Thakur’s statement is likely part of the BJP’s broader strategy to remind voters of the historical “jungle raj” and question whether the RJD can be trusted with the state’s governance again.

By linking Tejashwi Yadav to past misrule while framing the BJP as the protector of progress, Thakur’s speech underscores the continued role of historical narratives and legacy politics in shaping electoral debates in Bihar.