Patna: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav is expected to become fully active in Bihar politics again from next week, as the party prepares to hold two important review meetings in Patna on January 5 and 6.
Yadav is scheduled to return from Delhi on January 4, after which he will meet senior party leaders, including state president Mangani Lal Mandal, to discuss organisational reforms and upcoming political programmes. The meetings come in the wake of the party’s recent assembly election defeat.
According to party sources, the discussions will focus on identifying the reasons behind the loss. Internal feedback from district- and division-level meetings has indicated that local organisational units were largely inactive during the campaign. In several constituencies, the party reportedly relied heavily on external agencies instead of grassroots workers, a factor now being viewed as a major weakness.
There has also been discontent among party workers over campaign materials, including allegations that pens bearing colours associated with the BJP were distributed during the election. This issue is expected to be raised during the review meetings.
Organisational restructuring on the agenda
The return of Tejashwi Yadav is likely to accelerate the long-pending formation of new district and block committees. Mangani Lal Mandal was appointed state president in September, but with elections approaching at the time, the reconstitution of organisational units could not be completed.
As a result, many districts and blocks still lack appointed office-bearers, with more than half of the blocks reportedly without a president. The party continues to function using committees formed during the tenure of former state president Jagdanand Singh, a situation that leaders now acknowledge affected coordination and accountability during the election.
Sources say that decisions may be taken on appointing around 50 district presidents and nearly 265 block presidents, with Tejashwi Yadav seeking inputs from senior leaders before finalising the names.
Key political events under review
The meetings are also expected to address upcoming party events, including whether the birth anniversary of socialist leader Karpoori Thakur on January 24 should be observed on a statewide scale or remain limited to the party headquarters.
Additionally, discussions may take place regarding the traditional chura-dahi gathering at Rabri Devi’s residence on 10 Circular Road during Makar Sankranti on January 14. Party sources suggest that RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav may return to Patna before that date following eye surgery in Delhi, with MP Misa Bharti also expected to be present.
With the party facing both organisational and political challenges, the upcoming meetings are being seen as a crucial step in redefining the RJD’s strategy and leadership structure ahead of future electoral battles in Bihar.
