RJD Expands to Kerala Through LJD Merger, Faces Scrutiny from Prashant Kishor

Patna, 15th October 2023: The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) expanded its political landscape on Friday, merging with the Loktantrik Janata Dal (LJD) in Kerala. The event, held in Kozhikode and attended by Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Prasad Yadav and other senior leaders, aligns the RJD with the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections.

However, the merger did not go unchallenged. Prashant Kishor, the convenor of Jan Suraaj, criticized the RJD during a press conference in Sitamarhi district. “Out of 543 Lok Sabha MPs, the RJD has zero representation. Yet, some believe that the RJD has significant clout,” Kishor stated. He pointed out that while RJD did gain additional MLAs in the most recent assembly elections, it failed to secure even a single seat in the Lok Sabha from Bihar. “If the RJD can’t secure a base in its home state, how can they aim for national leadership?” he questioned.

Kishor further elaborated on the limited influence of the RJD, cautioning that people should not be deceived by the party’s political maneuvers. “Placing a poster of the Prime Minister outside one’s home doesn’t make you fit for the office. The nation’s citizens are not naive; there are parties similar to RJD in every state,” he added.

With this merger, the RJD aims to build a broader base and target a national audience, but faces skepticism about its capabilities and influence, especially in its home state of Bihar.