The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) on Wednesday expelled 10 of its leaders, including a sitting MLA, for what the party described as “anti-party activities,” PTI reported. This comes just a day after the party had expelled 27 other members, including two sitting MLAs and five former legislators, highlighting internal unrest within the party ahead of the upcoming Bihar assembly elections.

Among those expelled on Wednesday is Fateh Bahadur Singh, the MLA from Dehri, who is reportedly contesting the elections independently after being denied the party ticket. RJD state president Mangani Lal Mandal issued a statement noting that Singh and the other nine leaders, which include state vice president Satish Kumar and former MLAs Gulam Jilani Warsi and Reyazul Haq Raju, had engaged in activities contrary to party directives.

The decision underscores the party’s efforts to maintain discipline and prevent dissent ahead of the crucial elections scheduled in two phases on November 6 and November 11, with vote counting set for November 14. Party sources said the expulsions are aimed at consolidating support for official candidates and discouraging parallel campaigns by disgruntled members.

The move drew a sharp reaction from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Amit Malviya, head of the BJP IT cell, took to X (formerly Twitter) to mock the RJD, suggesting that the continuous expulsions risk leaving the party without both workers and voters. He posted: “At this rate, the party will soon be left without any workers as well as voters,” highlighting the perceived internal instability.

This sequence of expulsions signals mounting tensions within the RJD as it seeks to present a united front against the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the Bihar polls. Analysts say such internal conflicts could weaken the party’s electoral prospects, especially in closely contested constituencies where independent candidates backed by local influence could split the vote.

The RJD had already faced criticism for its handling of ticket allocations, with several sitting MLAs and prominent party workers expressing dissatisfaction over candidate selections. The expulsions, observers note, are part of a broader strategy to assert central authority and prevent defections that could undermine the party’s performance in the elections.

With polls just days away, the development adds another layer of uncertainty to Bihar’s political landscape, where both NDA and Mahagathbandhan parties are striving to consolidate support amid allegations, counterclaims, and internal dissent. The RJD’s moves to discipline its leadership underscore the party’s high stakes in the electoral contest, particularly as Bihar voters weigh governance, development, and leadership credibility in deciding their choices.

In summary, the RJD’s expulsion of 10 leaders, including an MLA running independently, follows a wave of similar disciplinary actions, highlighting internal fractures within the party ahead of the November 6 and 11 assembly elections. BJP leaders seized on the development to criticize the party’s internal management, framing it as evidence of instability that could impact its electoral prospects.