Key Highlights
- RJD leaders received party symbols from Lalu Yadav but were forced to return them after Tejashwi’s intervention, exposing internal family tensions
- The symbol recall occurred just hours before the October 17 nomination deadline, creating confusion among aspiring candidates
- Mahagathbandhan parties remain deadlocked over seat-sharing arrangements despite approaching election dates
The political landscape of Bihar witnessed unprecedented drama on October 13, 2025, when Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leaders who received party symbols from patriarch Lalu Prasad Yadav were compelled to return them following intervention by his son and party heir Tejashwi Yadav. This extraordinary sequence of events has highlighted deepening fissures within the RJD leadership and exposed the challenges facing the opposition Mahagathbandhan alliance as Bihar approaches its crucial assembly elections.
The incident unfolded at Lalu Yadav’s Patna residence on 10, Circular Road, where ticket aspirants had gathered following his return from Delhi. The dramatic reversal of candidate selection decisions has raised questions about party unity and decision-making processes, making the RJD Symbol Controversy a defining moment in Bihar politics. Election Commission data reveals that nomination filing for the first phase must conclude by October 17, leaving limited time for finalizing candidate lists.
"Tejashwi will not compromise on Law & Order and Corruption"
— BhikuMhatre (@MumbaichaDon) October 4, 2025
I heard Lalu Yadav has now thrown him out of RJD & family fearing arrest for Corruption under 'New' & 'Honest' Tejashwi Yadav. pic.twitter.com/cj9kOGv32t
Internal Power Struggle Surfaces
The RJD Symbol Controversy began when Lalu Prasad Yadav, upon returning from court proceedings in Delhi, found a crowd of hopeful candidates outside his residence gates. Party sources indicate that aspirants who received calls from leadership were invited inside, emerging minutes later with yellow envelopes containing party endorsement documents. Among the initial recipients were notable figures including Sunil Singh, who recently defected from Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s JD(U), and former MLA Narendra Kumar Singh alias Bogo.
The situation dramatically changed when Tejashwi Yadav arrived at his Patna residence after his own return from Delhi. Sources close to the party leadership suggest that Tejashwi expressed concerns about distributing tickets before finalizing the alliance’s seat-sharing arrangement with Congress and other partners. This intervention resulted in late-night phone calls to all symbol recipients, requesting their immediate return to the residence, further intensifying the RJD Symbol Controversy.
Party leaders have remained ambiguous about the specific reasons for the symbol recall, with some officials like Ashraf Fatmi claiming that no symbols were actually distributed and suggesting social media photos were “AI-generated”. However, multiple news outlets reported witnessing the distribution and subsequent collection of party symbols, contradicting these denials and adding confusion to the RJD Symbol Controversy.
The ongoing dispute has exposed fundamental disagreements within the party’s top leadership about candidate selection timing and procedures. Political analysts suggest this incident reflects broader tensions between traditional party management approaches and modern electoral strategies, making the RJD Symbol Controversy a case study in internal party dynamics.
Seat-Sharing Deadlock Complicates Alliance
The Mahagathbandhan alliance continues grappling with unresolved seat-sharing arrangements despite the approaching nomination deadlines. Current negotiations indicate that the RJD may contest 135 seats compared to their 144 seats in 2020, while Congress representation could decrease from 70 to approximately 60-61 seats. These adjustments reflect Congress’s poor performance in the previous election, where they secured only 19 victories out of 70 contested seats.
Alliance partners including the Communist parties, Mukesh Sahni’s Vikassheel Insaan Party, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, and Pashupati Kumar Paras’s RLJP are actively negotiating for favorable seat allocations. The Left parties are expected to receive 29-31 seats, while VIP may secure around 16 constituencies in the final arrangement. However, these discussions remain fluid, with several partners expressing dissatisfaction over proposed allocations, a situation complicated by the RJD Symbol Controversy.
The seat-sharing uncertainty has created additional pressure on individual party candidate selection processes. Political observers note that the symbol distribution and recall incident occurred against this backdrop of alliance negotiations, suggesting that premature candidate announcements could complicate inter-party discussions. The Election Commission’s strict timeline for nomination filing adds urgency to these deliberations, with the RJD Symbol Controversy serving as a cautionary example.
Recent meetings between Tejashwi Yadav and senior Congress leaders including KC Venugopal in New Delhi indicate ongoing efforts to resolve the deadlock. However, sources suggest that while RJD-Congress arrangements are largely settled, disputes persist between RJD and smaller alliance partners, potentially influenced by the recent symbol distribution fiasco.
Electoral Timeline Pressures Parties
Bihar’s assembly elections will proceed in two phases on November 6 and November 11, with vote counting scheduled for November 14. The Election Commission issued notifications for the first phase covering 121 constituencies on October 9, with nomination filing concluding on October 17. The second phase notification, covering 122 seats across 20 districts, allows nominations until October 20.
Official data from the Chief Electoral Officer indicates that 7.43 crore voters are eligible to participate in these elections, including 1.4 million first-time voters following the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. The Election Commission has deployed 8.5 lakh officers for poll management, reflecting the scale and complexity of the electoral exercise, which has been overshadowed by the RJD Symbol Controversy.
Security arrangements for nomination filing include restrictions allowing only three vehicles and five persons to accompany each candidate. The entire nomination process will be videographed to ensure transparency and prevent irregularities. These measures underscore the Commission’s commitment to conducting free and fair elections in a politically charged environment, where incidents like the RJD Symbol Controversy can create additional tensions.
The ruling National Democratic Alliance has already finalized its seat-sharing arrangement, with BJP and JD(U) each contesting 101 seats, while Chirag Paswan’s LJP(RV) will fight for 29 constituencies. This early resolution gives the NDA a strategic advantage in candidate preparation and campaign planning compared to the still-negotiating opposition alliance, which remains distracted by the RJD Symbol Controversy.
Alliance Strategy Under Scrutiny
The recent symbol distribution incident has drawn attention to the opposition alliance’s organizational challenges and internal coordination mechanisms. Political strategists suggest that public disagreements between senior leaders can undermine voter confidence and provide ammunition for rival parties. The incident has also highlighted generational differences in political approach between Lalu Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav, with the RJD Symbol Controversy becoming a symbol of these deeper rifts.
Campaign observers note that the symbol distribution and recall episode has created confusion among party workers and aspiring candidates about the final candidate selection process. This uncertainty could impact grassroots mobilization efforts in constituencies where potential candidates are unclear about their status. The RJD’s ability to project unity and decisive leadership may influence voter perceptions in the upcoming elections, especially after the RJD Symbol Controversy exposed internal conflicts.
Opposition research indicates that effective alliance coordination becomes crucial in multi-phase elections where early results can influence later voting patterns. The Mahagathbandhan’s current challenges in basic organizational tasks like candidate selection raise questions about their capacity for coordinated campaign execution. Successful electoral alliances typically demonstrate seamless cooperation in candidate selection, resource allocation, and message coordination, areas where the RJD Symbol Controversy has highlighted significant weaknesses.
The incident also reflects broader challenges facing regional parties in managing family-based leadership transitions while maintaining organizational effectiveness. Political analysts suggest that modern electoral success requires clear command structures and rapid decision-making capabilities, qualities that appeared lacking during the symbol distribution fiasco.
Final Assessment
The RJD Symbol Controversy represents more than a mere administrative mishap, revealing fundamental tensions within Bihar’s opposition alliance at a critical juncture. The dramatic reversal of candidate endorsements just days before nomination deadlines exposes organizational weaknesses that could have far-reaching electoral consequences. As Bihar’s political parties race against time to finalize their preparations, the opposition alliance’s ability to present a united front remains uncertain, with the symbol recall incident serving as a stark reminder of internal discord.
The incident underscores how internal party dynamics can significantly impact broader alliance strategies and voter perceptions. With the ruling NDA having already resolved their seat-sharing arrangements, the continuing uncertainty within the Mahagathbandhan provides their opponents with potential campaign advantages. The resolution of these organizational challenges will likely determine whether the opposition can mount an effective challenge to the incumbent government in Bihar’s upcoming assembly elections, making the RJD Symbol Controversy a potential turning point in the state’s political trajectory.
