Lalu Yadav claimed to uproot PM Modi, Amit Shah and Nitish Kumar across the seven seas.
Patna November 11, 2024: Despite his ongoing health issues, RJD chief Lalu Yadav made a significant appearance in Belaganj, Gaya district, on the final day of campaigning for the Bihar by-elections.
During his speech, Lalu Yadav launched a strong verbal attack on PM Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
“We will uproot them and send them across the seven seas,” Yadav said.
Known for his lively and colorful rhetoric, Lalu Prasad tried to channel his former firebrand persona but was visibly constrained by his health.
Though he recited popular proverbs like “Lagal-lagal Jhulaniya mein Dhakka, Balam Calcutta Chale,” his voice wavered, revealing the impact of age and illness on his public speaking style.
Lalu Yadav campaigned for Vishwanath Singh Yadav in Belaganj:
He campaigned in support of RJD candidate Vishwanath Singh, the son of newly elected MP Surendra Prasad Yadav, whose promotion to Parliament left the Belaganj seat vacant.
Lalu Yadav aimed to energize the RJD base and secure support for Vishwanath Yadav, especially in light of an aggressive campaign by Jan Suraj leader Prashant Kishor.
His presence in Belaganj was driven by a tactical need to counter Prashant Kishor’s efforts to disrupt RJD’s traditional M-Y (Muslim-Yadav) vote bank.
Kishor’s Jan Suraj has strategically fielded a Muslim candidate, Mohammad Amjad, in Belaganj, potentially siphoning off a key section of the RJD’s base and threatening the party’s stronghold.
Lalu Yadav tried to intact Muslim vote banks with RJD:
Recognizing this challenge, Lalu Yadav’s appearance aimed to reinforce party unity and prevent a division in the Muslim vote by appealing to the RJD’s loyal voter base.
His campaign stop underscores the high stakes for the RJD in Belaganj, where Prashant Kishor’s strategy poses a direct challenge.
With voting scheduled for November 13, Lalu’s rally serves as a last-minute attempt to hold RJD’s ground amid the threat of a shifting political landscape. The outcome on November 23 will reveal if Lalu Prasad’s final push succeeded in neutralizing Kishor’s efforts.
In a last-ditch effort to consolidate RJD’s core M-Y (Muslim-Yadav) voter base in Belaganj, Lalu Prasad Yadav’s rally strategically highlighted Muslim support, aiming to counter Prashant Kishor’s inroads into this base.
Lalu’s stage prominently featured Muslim Leaders, and though he refrained from directly mentioning the Muslim community his call for unity was a clear signal urging the community to remain with the RJD.
The RJD has deployed nearly all of its influential Muslim leaders to Belaganj to shore up support. Among them are Hina Shahab, the wife of late Siwan MP Shahabuddin, and her son, Osama Shahab, who were recently re-inducted into the party.
Osama has since been actively canvassing among Muslim voters, emphasizing the importance of voting for RJD and maintaining the long-standing alliance within the community.
Jan Suraj Party is emerging as a potential political threat to Lalu Yadav:
Prashant Kishor, meanwhile, has been leveraging his Jan Suraj candidate Mohammad Amjad to capture the Muslim vote, claiming to have weakened the RJD’s symbolic “lantern.”
He has repeatedly asserted that the RJD’s reliance on Muslim support—referred to as the “oil” for their lantern—has diminished, suggesting that this erosion leaves only a flickering wick.
Kishor’s rhetoric implies that without strong Muslim backing, the RJD’s electoral strength is waning, and he’s determined to bring that symbolic lantern to a close.
With voting just two days away on November 13, the by-election results on November 23 will reveal whether Lalu’s efforts to rally the RJD base were enough to counter Prashant Kishor’s strategic disruption in Belaganj.
This contest may not only decide the immediate by-election outcome but also signal broader shifts in Bihar’s political landscape.
Also Read: Lalu Prasad Yadav called for a meeting to discuss poll strategy.
EOM.