Patna: The Rashtriya Janata Dal is set to overhaul its student organisation, with Tejashwi Yadav deciding to rename the Chhatra RJD as the “Student Wing of RJD” in a significant organisational shift.
The move marks a departure from the party’s long-standing student identity, closely associated with Lalu Prasad Yadav, who himself rose to prominence through student politics in Bihar.
Party insiders say the decision is aimed at restructuring the student body and creating a fresh identity, while also distancing it from the influence of Tej Pratap Yadav, who had informally led the student wing for over a decade until his recent expulsion from both the party and the family.
During his tenure, Tej Pratap was seen as the dominant force in campus-level politics linked to the organisation, often operating independently in matters such as university elections and internal appointments. His differences with senior leaders, including former state president Jagdanand Singh, had also surfaced publicly.
With the rebranding, Tejashwi Yadav is expected to build a new team and reassert control over the student wing, aligning it more closely with the party’s current leadership and strategy.
Party leaders argue that the change will help modernise the organisation’s image and improve its outreach among young voters. However, they acknowledge that shifting away from a well-known name could create confusion among workers and require additional effort to establish the new identity.
The decision follows the dissolution of the Bihar unit of Chhatra RJD by Lalu Prasad Yadav on March 6. Since then, Naval Kishore Yadav has been overseeing the organisation at the national level.
Leaders say the restructuring is also aimed at strengthening the party’s presence on university campuses, drawing comparisons with student bodies linked to other political groups such as Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad and left-affiliated organisations.
Strategically, the RJD is looking to expand beyond its traditional “MY” (Muslim-Yadav) support base by appealing to a broader cross-section of students across caste and class lines.
Party functionaries also cited technical considerations, pointing to recommendations of the Lyngdoh Committee, which discourage direct political party branding in campus elections. The new name is expected to make it easier for students sympathetic to the party’s ideology to associate with the organisation without formally aligning with a political party.
Observers say the move reflects a broader attempt by the RJD leadership to recalibrate its image and strengthen its youth connect ahead of future political contests.
