NDA leaders also face allegations, limiting any moral advantage in leveraging Lalu’s case against the RJD. Experts say Bihar’s elections are shaped more by caste, community, and development narratives than by corruption alone.
BY Navin Upadhyay
New Delhi / Patna, October 13: A Delhi court on Monday framed corruption and criminal conspiracy charges against RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, his wife and former Chief Minister Rabri Devi, and son Tejashwi Yadav in the IRCTC tender scam case. The ruling revives a long-pending graft case against Bihar’s most influential political family — but it may not provide the NDA much political leverage, given the serious corruption allegations faced by several of its own senior leaders.
All three members of the Yadav family pleaded not guilty before the Rouse Avenue court and said they would face trial. The court, in a detailed order, held that there was sufficient evidence to proceed under sections relating to cheating, criminal conspiracy, and the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The case concerns the alleged irregular allotment of maintenance contracts for BNR Ranchi and BNR Puri hotels during Lalu’s tenure as Railway Minister (2004–2009). The CBI has alleged that the contracts were awarded to Sujata Hotels in exchange for three acres of prime land in Patna, transferred through a benami company linked to the Yadavs.
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“The conspiracy is sublime but not hidden from the court’s view,” the judge observed, adding that “probable fraud must be tried as cheating” and that the state exchequer suffered tangible loss.
A Blow to RJD — But No Moral Edge for NDA
While the court’s order is a political setback for the RJD ahead of the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections, the NDA alliance is unlikely to gain much ground. The BJP-JD(U) combine itself faces credibility challenges after corruption allegations surfaced against senior leaders, including Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, BJP Bihar president Dilip Jaiswal, Health Minister Mangal Pandey, and MP Sanjay Jaiswal.
Adding to this, Jana Suraj leader Prashant Kishor has accused both camps — the RJD and the NDA — of being “two sides of the same corrupt coin,” arguing that neither has the moral authority to campaign on clean governance.
VIDEO | Delhi court framed charges against RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, former Bihar CM Rabri Devi and their son Tejashwi Yadav, who is the Leader of Opposition in Bihar Legislative Assembly, in the alleged IRCTC scam case, setting the stage for a trial ahead of polls in Bihar.… pic.twitter.com/BmHAEFrEJB
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 13, 2025
Corruption: A Muted Campaign Theme
In Bihar, corruption rarely functions as the sole determinant of electoral outcomes. Caste dynamics and community loyalties remain central to the state’s politics. The Yadavs, traditionally a dominant OBC group, continue to form the core support base for the RJD, while the party’s alliances with Muslim leaders and other backward castes help consolidate a formidable vote bloc. For the NDA, the challenge is to retain support among upper castes, non-Yadav OBCs, and Dalits, while appealing to sections of the Muslim electorate that have historically leaned toward the RJD.
Beyond caste, communal narratives increasingly shape campaigns. Messaging emphasizing law and order, nationalist rhetoric, or minority appeasement often resonates with specific voter segments, sometimes offsetting issues like corruption or governance failures. In this context, even high-profile cases like the IRCTC scam may have limited impact on voter behavior, as parties skillfully navigate communal sensitivities and caste loyalties.
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For voters, electoral choices are rarely straightforward. While the framing of charges against the Yadav family may energize media coverage and opposition narratives, the NDA cannot credibly leverage the issue without exposing itself to counter-criticism. Ultimately, Bihar’s elections are likely to be decided not just by corruption scandals but by the complex interplay of caste, community, and perceived development narratives — factors that often outweigh purely legal or ethical considerations.
“The framing of charges may sting the RJD temporarily,” said a senior Patna-based analyst, “but voters have grown cynical. Corruption is no longer a decisive issue when all sides are tainted. Local governance and welfare delivery will weigh heavier this time.”
As both alliances brace for an intense electoral battle, the court’s decision may harden political narratives but is unlikely to shift voter loyalties dramatically. For the people of Bihar, the real question remains: if corruption is everywhere, what real choice do they have?
