Patna witnessed a tense scene on Sunday as Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) worker Usha Devi staged a protest outside the residence of party chief Lalu Prasad Yadav. The protest came after Devi, a long-time party member, was denied a ticket to contest from the Bodh Gaya constituency in the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections. Scheduled for November 11, the polling in Bodh Gaya falls in the second phase of the state elections, with Monday marking the final day for filing nominations.

Devi, who has been associated with the RJD since the age of 17, expressed her disappointment at being overlooked for the Bodh Gaya seat, despite repeated assurances from senior party leaders, including Tejashwi Yadav and Khesari Lal Yadav. Speaking to ANI, she described the situation as disheartening but emphasized her continued loyalty to the party and its leadership.

“I am a party member since I was 17 years old. I visited my village to seek blessings from my parents before heading to Bodh Gaya for election campaigning. Despite all the dedication and assurances from leaders like Khesari Lal and Tejashwi Yadav, I did not get a ticket to contest the MLA election from the Bodh Gaya constituency. I am disappointed but still committed to supporting Tejashwi Yadav and Lalu Yadav,” Devi said.

Her protest comes amid ongoing seat-sharing disputes within the Mahagathbandhan alliance, which has yet to finalize its seat distribution. The Congress party, a key ally in the coalition, recently released its second list of candidates, adding five more names to its roster and bringing the total to 53 after an earlier announcement of 48 candidates. This fluid situation within the alliance has fueled discontent among several RJD members who expected to secure tickets in the upcoming polls.

The day’s political unrest extended beyond Usha Devi’s protest. Former RJD candidate Madan Shah also staged a dramatic demonstration outside Lalu Prasad Yadav’s residence, visibly distressed after being denied a ticket. Shah alleged that he had been promised a candidacy for the upcoming 2025 Bihar Assembly elections, but when he did not pay the ₹2.7 crore reportedly demanded, the ticket was instead allocated to another individual.

During the protest, Shah was seen tearing his clothes and falling to the ground, following the RJD chief’s car as it exited the premises. Speaking to ANI, he accused the party leadership of arrogance and mismanagement in candidate selection. “They will not form the government. Tejashwi is very arrogant, doesn’t meet people. They are giving away tickets. Sanjay Yadav is doing all this. ₹2.7 crore… give that much, we’ll give you the ticket. I have come here to die. Lalu Yadav is my Guru. He had said that he would give me a ticket. They gave a ticket to Santosh Kushwaha, a BJP agent,” Shah said.

Shah further alleged that both Lalu Prasad Yadav and his son Tejashwi had reneged on their earlier promise to him. He recounted that in 2020, Lalu Prasad Yadav had called him to Ranchi to conduct a survey regarding the Teli community, indicating that Shah was expected to defeat Randhir Singh from Madhuban constituency. Shah claimed that both father and son had personally assured him of a ticket, highlighting his long-standing service to the party since the 1990s. “I am a poor man. I sold my land,” he said, emphasizing the personal sacrifices he had made in pursuit of his political ambitions.

These incidents underscore the tension and discontent brewing within the RJD ranks as the Bihar Assembly elections approach. The elections are set to be held in two phases, with the first phase on November 6 and the second on November 11, while results are scheduled to be announced on November 14. As the parties finalize candidates and alliances, the internal pressures within the RJD reflect the broader challenges of maintaining unity and discipline amid high-stakes political contests.

The protests by Usha Devi and Madan Shah also highlight the human dimension of political campaigns in Bihar, where promises of candidacy and perceived favoritism can result in public displays of dissent. While the RJD leadership has not issued an official response to these specific protests, such incidents place additional scrutiny on the party as it seeks to consolidate support and present a cohesive front in the elections.

The Bodh Gaya constituency, a key seat in the Gaya district, carries significant political weight, and competition among aspiring candidates is intense. The protests by longstanding party workers like Usha Devi and Madan Shah illustrate the deep stakes involved for individuals who have invested decades in party work. For the RJD, managing internal expectations while navigating alliance politics with the Congress and other partners remains a delicate balancing act, particularly as electoral deadlines approach and the public eagerly anticipates the final list of candidates.

In conclusion, the Bihar Assembly elections are shaping up to be a high-drama political exercise, not only in terms of inter-party competition but also due to intra-party challenges. The protests outside Lalu Prasad Yadav’s residence serve as a reminder of the intense personal and political stakes involved, as well as the challenges party leadership faces in balancing loyalty, merit, and electoral strategy. With polling just weeks away, these developments add an extra layer of tension to an already charged electoral atmosphere in Bihar.