Patna: The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has dissolved all its organisational committees in Bihar, from the state level to the panchayat level, in a move that comes amid growing internal dissent and a series of electoral setbacks.
The decision, announced by RJD State President Mangnilal Mandal on Thursday, also dissolves all party cells. Party leaders indicated that Tejashwi Yadav, the RJD’s working president, is expected to oversee a comprehensive reorganisation of the party structure.
Move Follows Bankipur Setback
The organisational overhaul comes days after the RJD suffered a poor showing in the Bankipur Assembly by-election, where its candidate Rekha Gupta secured around 14,000 votes and forfeited her security deposit.
The by-election was won by Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) finished second.
The result has intensified pressure on the RJD leadership as the party seeks to revive its organisational strength ahead of future elections.
Internal Differences Spill Into Public
The Bankipur defeat also exposed divisions within the party, with senior leaders publicly blaming one another for the outcome.
Maner MLA Bhai Virendra attributed the defeat to organisational weaknesses and criticised some leaders close to Tejashwi Yadav.
His remarks prompted a sharp response from RJD chief spokesperson Shakti Singh Yadav, who questioned Bhai Virendra’s own contribution to the party.
The exchange escalated when Bhai Virendra warned the spokesperson against making further comments, saying he would reveal internal matters if provoked.
Series Of Political Setbacks
The Bankipur result adds to the RJD’s recent electoral challenges.
In the 2025 Bihar Assembly election, the party’s strength in the Legislative Assembly fell to 25 MLAs, marking one of its weakest performances in recent years.
The party also suffered another setback ahead of the Bankipur by-election when RJD spokesperson Mrityunjay Tiwari resigned and joined the BJP.
Tiwari alleged that he had been repeatedly humiliated within the party and claimed that his complaints to Tejashwi Yadav had gone unaddressed. Party sources said he had differences with Shakti Singh Yadav.
Tejashwi Set To Rebuild Organisation
With all committees dissolved, the RJD is expected to undertake a complete organisational restructuring across Bihar.
Party sources indicated that Tejashwi Yadav will lead the exercise, with fresh appointments likely from the state, district, block and panchayat levels as the party attempts to strengthen its grassroots network after successive electoral setbacks.
