Patna: Former Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) spokesperson Mrityunjay Tiwari is set to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday, days after resigning from the opposition party. According to BJP leaders, state president Sanjay Saraogi will induct Tiwari into the party at the BJP’s state office in Patna.
The move comes a week after Tiwari announced his resignation from the RJD on July 16, ending his long association with the party led by Lalu Prasad and Tejashwi Yadav.
Resignation Followed Days of Speculation
Following Tiwari’s resignation, RJD state president Mangnilal Mandal had reportedly kept the resignation pending, saying discussions would take place after Tejashwi Yadav returned from an overseas visit.
However, Tiwari has since indicated that he is no longer interested in further discussions, saying there is “no time left for talks”.
Why Did Mrityunjay Tiwari Leave the RJD?
After resigning, Tiwari publicly criticised the RJD’s internal functioning and senior leadership.
He alleged that Tejashwi Yadav was surrounded by individuals who were weakening the party from within and claimed that despite years of dedicated work, he had been consistently ignored and humiliated.
Tiwari further alleged that he had raised his concerns with senior party leaders and Tejashwi Yadav but received no response.
The RJD has not publicly responded to these allegations.
A Long-Time RJD Leader
Mrityunjay Tiwari has been one of the RJD’s prominent public faces for more than a decade.
In 2014, Lalu Prasad appointed him as the party’s media in-charge and spokesperson, a period when the RJD was in the opposition and Lalu Prasad was serving a jail sentence in connection with fodder scam cases.
Tiwari frequently represented the party in television debates and press briefings and was regarded as one of the RJD’s most visible spokespersons.
He was also considered one of the party’s prominent Brahmin leaders, often seen as part of the RJD’s efforts to broaden its support beyond its traditional social base.
BJP Move Gathered Momentum After Resignation
Speculation over Tiwari’s political future intensified soon after his resignation.
A photograph of him with BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya surfaced a day later, prompting discussions that he was likely to join the BJP.
Several BJP leaders subsequently said the party would welcome him if he decided to join.
Political Significance of the Defection
Tiwari’s exit comes at a politically significant time for the RJD, with Bihar preparing for upcoming electoral contests, including the Bankipur Assembly by-election.
Political observers are likely to view the departure of one of the party’s senior spokespersons as an organisational setback. It also comes as Tejashwi Yadav has been projecting the RJD’s “A to Z” outreach, aimed at expanding the party’s appeal across different social groups.
Whether Tiwari’s move influences the broader political landscape will become clearer as Bihar moves closer to the next phase of electoral campaigning.
