Patna: Tension prevailed outside the residence of former Chief Minister Rabri Devi in Patna on Tuesday as a large number of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) workers gathered to protest against Masaurhi MLA Rekha Paswan. The demonstrators, chanting slogans against the legislator, demanded her removal over alleged corruption and inaction in her constituency.
According to eyewitnesses, the agitation continued for several hours, during which RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav’s convoy was surrounded by angry supporters as he returned from his routine walk on Ganga Path. The protesters shouted slogans against Rekha Paswan in front of him, forcing security personnel to intervene. A minor scuffle broke out when Lalu’s bodyguards tried to disperse the crowd. Lalu, however, ignored the protest and continued towards the residence.
Rekha Paswan Dismisses Allegations, Calls Protesters “Hired Ponies”
Speaking to a local daily after the incident, Rekha Paswan dismissed the protesters’ claims, calling them “hired ponies” brought in for money.
“They were all called by paying ₹500–₹1,000 each. Netaji has asked us to remain calm, and that is what we are doing,” Paswan said.
She further alleged that the agitation was fueled by her political opponents and individuals expelled from the party. “Nutan Paswan, whose name they are using, is not even part of the RJD anymore. She is a fugitive and has no standing in the party. These people collect money, bring a few others along, and create a ruckus outside the leader’s house. There’s no unrest at the ground level,” the MLA asserted.
Paswan added that she enjoys strong local support. “No MLA in Bihar spends as much time in their constituency as I do. Our leader knows this very well. If we wanted, we could easily gather 10,000 people, but our leader has asked us to remain calm,” she said.
Protesters Allege Corruption and Neglect in Masaurhi
Meanwhile, RJD workers who participated in the protest accused Rekha Paswan of neglecting Masaurhi’s development and promoting corruption. The protesters held a late-night vigil outside Rabri Devi’s residence, waving posters that read “Remove Rekha, Save Masaurhi.”
Chandan Yadav, one of the protesting workers, said, “Nothing has been done for Masaurhi in 10 years. This is not about money—it’s about respect. We trust our leader Lalu Prasad Yadav and believe he will listen to us.”
Another worker, Nurul Prasad, alleged, “Corruption has only increased under Rekha Devi’s tenure. All that happens in Masaurhi now is bribery and favoritism. She should be replaced.”
Activist Santosh echoed similar views, saying, “We demand that Rekha Paswan be removed and someone else be given the ticket. This is about the welfare of our area.”
Subhash Yadav, another party worker, said, “We youth are the backbone of the RJD. We need a strong and clean candidate for Masaurhi. Tejashwi Yadav’s government will be formed in Bihar, and we want to ensure victory in our constituency.”
Who is Rekha Paswan?
Rekha Paswan, a Dalit leader, was elected from the Masaurhi Assembly seat in Patna district on an RJD ticket in 2020. She defeated Janata Dal (United) candidate Nutan Paswan by a margin of 32,227 votes, securing 98,696 votes in total.
Earlier this year, Paswan made headlines when she staged a protest demanding ₹2 lakh compensation for families of road accident victims in Masaurhi, supported by MP Misa Bharti. However, she has also faced controversies, including a remark by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in the Assembly in September 2025 that was widely criticized as derogatory toward women and Dalits.
