Former MLA and strongman Rajballabh Yadav ignited a political firestorm on Sunday during a public address by making personal and disparaging comments about Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav, specifically targeting his wife. The RJD has initiated protests in response to Yadav’s remarks. This was Rajballabh Yadav’s first major public address since his release from jail.
During the gathering, Rajballabh Yadav made controversial statements regarding Tejashwi Yadav’s marriage. He criticized Yadav’s focus on caste for electoral gains while marrying outside the community. He remarked that it would have been better had Tejashwi married a woman from the Yadav community. He questioned the need to bring a wife from Haryana-Punjab, comparing it to acquiring a ‘Jersey cow’.
In the wake of these statements, RJD workers expressed outrage. RJD activists in Nawada staged vehement protests, burning effigies of Rajballabh Yadav. RJD district president Renu Singh condemned the remarks, stating that the insult of women would not be tolerated under any circumstances.
Rajballabh Yadav has reportedly been at odds with the party for a considerable period. His wife, Vibha Devi, was elected as an MLA from Nawada on an RJD ticket in 2020.
Notably, Vibha Devi was seen on the BJP stage during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rally in Gaya recently, fueling speculation about her growing proximity to the ruling party.
Amidst this controversy, political activity in Nawada has intensified. Recently, former JDU MLA Kaushal Yadav joined the RJD.
Rajballabh Yadav is known for his strong influence within the Yadav community. Political analysts suggest that the stances taken by Rajballabh Yadav and his wife are reshaping the political landscape in Nawada, and Yadav’s recent statements make it clear that his relationship with the RJD has soured.