The Rashtriya Janata Dal has made significant efforts to broaden its voter base beyond its traditional support among Yadavs and Muslims. The party under Tejashwi Yadav has campaigned for jobs, demanded a Bharat Ratna for Lalu Prasad, held special outreach events for the Teli community, and formed alliances with smaller caste-based parties like Mukesh Sahani's Vikassheel Insaan Party and I P Singh's Indian Inclusive Party. Despite these attempts, major non-Yadav Other Backward Classes and Extremely Backward Classes communities including Koeri-Kushwahas, Nonias, Telis and Nishads remain hesitant to fully embrace the Mahagathbandhan. Multiple factors contribute to this reluctance: lingering memories of Lalu Prasad's era described as jungle raj, Yadav dominance in rural areas, Nitish Kumar's welfare schemes reducing opposition anger, lack of a credible alternative leadership, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's cross-caste appeal. In its candidate list of 142 seats, the RJD fielded 51 Yadavs among 75 OBC candidates, along with 11 EBCs and 13 Kushwahas.
Backward Castes Reluctant Despite Outreach Efforts
Across Champaran, Mithilanchal, Shahabad and Seemanchal regions, many non-Yadav voters express reservations about the opposition alliance. Krishna Prasad, an OBC paan seller from West Champaran, sarcastically dismissed voting for change, fearing a return to lawlessness. Kushwaha farmers in Jainagar said they would vote for Jan Suraaj instead, citing memories of Lalu's rule when nobody could leave home after sunset. Ramesh Mandal, an EBC resident from Banka, said his community feels comfortable with Nitish Kumar and no longer experiences Yadav dominance. Keshav Mehta, a Kushwaha farmer from Munger, noted that attraction to Tejashwi's 10 lakh jobs promise in 2020 has faded, with support limited only where Kushwaha candidates were fielded.
Yadav Assertion Remains Key Obstacle for RJD Growth
A conversation between a Yadav mechanic and his Teli friend in Motihari captured the core challenge facing the RJD. The Teli friend remarked that when RJD wins, Yadavs start asserting themselves, causing other communities to consolidate against them. In Patna, Sanjay Kumar from Arwal stated plainly that people have no issues with Lalu Prasad but with his Yadavs, saying they don't want the rule of the green gamchha, referring to RJD party colours. According to the 2022-23 caste survey, EBCs constitute 36 percent of Bihar's population, with Koeri-Kushwahas forming the largest OBC group after Yadavs at 4.2 percent, while Telis and Mallahs are the biggest EBC groups.
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