The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has scheduled an extensive review meeting today at its Patna headquarters, bringing together all 25 newly elected MLAs, candidates who contested unsuccessfully, and senior party leaders. Chaired by Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, who served as the opposition INDIA bloc’s chief ministerial candidate, the gathering will systematically evaluate the reasons for the party’s substantial underperformance in the recently concluded Bihar assembly elections and explore pathways for organizational recovery.

Candidates who lost by narrow margins have been directed to submit in-depth reports analyzing booth-level dynamics, voter turnout patterns, and specific campaign shortcomings in their respective constituencies. A senior party functionary stated that the agenda encompasses a thorough examination of operational lapses, alongside the formulation of targeted initiatives to revitalize grassroots infrastructure, including the reinforcement of booth committees, training for local workers, and improved coordination mechanisms to prevent future electoral fragmentation.

In the 2025 elections, the RJD experienced a marked decline, securing only 25 seats compared to 75 in 2020, which pushed it to third place in the 243-member assembly. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) achieved a decisive three-fourths majority with 202 seats, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at 89 seats and Janata Dal (United) at 85. The Mahagathbandhan alliance, of which RJD was a key component, was limited to 35 seats overall. Although the RJD maintained a vote share of 23%—marginally lower than 23.11% in 2020—the conversion of votes into seats revealed critical deficiencies in alliance management and strategic seat allocation.

Also Read: Bihar Political Dynasty Shaken: Lalu’s Daughter Claims Abuse Over “Dirty Kidney” Donation

Party spokesperson Chitranjan Gagan emphasized that such post-election reviews are a standard practice across political organizations. Nevertheless, informed sources suggest that the closed-door discussions will critically assess leadership decisions under Tejashwi Yadav, the impact of vote fragmentation among smaller allies, and the BJP’s vote share growth to 20.08% from 19.46% in 2020, bolstered by more than 10 million ballots as per Election Commission data.

With approximately 11.5 million voters having supported RJD candidates, the outcomes of this meeting hold significant implications for the party’s internal restructuring, potential leadership realignments, and its positioning as a viable opposition force in Bihar’s evolving political landscape over the coming years.

Also Read: Rohini Acharya Quits Politics, Says She’s ‘Disowning Family’ After RJD’s Bihar Election Debacle