Patna: Two Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) legislators were seen sharing the stage with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Bihar visit on Friday, sparking speculation of a possible realignment ahead of the assembly polls.
Nawada MLA Vibha Devi and Rajauli MLA Prakash Veer were spotted seated in the back row on the dais at Magadh University, where the Prime Minister inaugurated and laid foundation stones for development projects worth nearly ₹13,000 crore. Their presence drew considerable attention in political circles.
Vibha Devi’s husband, former MLA Raj Ballabh Yadav, was recently acquitted in a POCSO case by the Patna High Court after spending several years in jail. A powerful figure in Nawada politics, he has reportedly been upset with the RJD since the party denied his family a ticket in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. His brother, Binod Yadav, had even contested the Nawada seat as an Independent after quitting the party.
Prakash Veer, currently serving his second term from a Scheduled Caste reserved constituency, is also said to have had strained relations with RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, according to PTI reports.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), however, dismissed the speculation. BJP MP Vivek Thakur said all elected representatives had been invited to the function, regardless of party affiliations.
“There were many projects being inaugurated by different departments, so all MLAs, MLCs, and MPs were invited. The fact that some turned up and some didn’t is being unnecessarily highlighted,” Thakur told NDTV.
He added that while some Opposition leaders chose to boycott the event in protest against the Prime Minister’s presence, others attended, including members from the RJD and the CPI(M). He described the absence of some leaders as “unfortunate.”
