Renu Kushwaha's Political Shift Shakes Bihar's Opposition Dynamics

In a significant political development ahead of Bihar's assembly elections, former state minister Renu Kushwaha has joined the opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). Kushwaha's induction was formalized in the presence of Leader of the Opposition, Tejashwi Yadav, alongside her supporters on Wednesday.

Kushwaha's departure from the BJP in 2019 after being denied a ticket from the Khagaria Lok Sabha seat, coupled with her later resignation from the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) amid allegations of ticket sales, underscores her evolving political journey. Her move to the RJD is seen as an effort to diversify the party's support base beyond its traditional Muslim-Yadav constituency by appealing to other caste groups with historical ties to the NDA.

Yadav capitalized on the occasion to highlight incidents of caste-based discrimination under BJP rule, particularly referencing an occurrence in Uttar Pradesh involving an OBC preacher. This narrative frames the RJD's efforts to position itself as a more inclusive alternative to the BJP, leveraging Kushwaha's switch as a pivotal moment in the ongoing political maneuvering in Bihar.

(With inputs from agencies.)