Ex-RJD leader’s murder sends shockwaves, sparks war of words between RJD and BJP

The murder of property dealer and former RJD leader Rajkumar Rai late Wednesday night in Patna has sent shockwaves through Bihar’s political landscape. Rai was chased down and shot seven times by unidentified assailants near his home in the state capital. He died on the spot.

The killing is being viewed through a political lens, with speculation rife that Rai was preparing to contest the upcoming assembly elections from Raghopur, a constituency considered an RJD stronghold and closely linked to the prestige of the Lalu Prasad Yadav family.

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Rai’s reported decision to contest from Raghopur was seen as a direct challenge to Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Assembly Tejashwi Yadav, who has won the seat with a consistent vote share of 48–49% in both the 2015 and 2020 elections. Before him, both Lalu Prasad Yadav and Rabri Devi had represented the seat.

Reacting sharply to the murder, Tejashwi Yadav launched a scathing attack on the Nitish Kumar-led NDA government, alleging that murders are being plotted from within the Deputy Chief Minister’s residence. He accused both Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary of shielding criminals.

“We have long said that criminals have now become ‘Vijay’ and ‘Samrat’,” Tejashwi said, using a pun on the names of the two Deputy CMs. He also labelled CM Nitish Kumar the “Bhishma Pitamah of corruption.”

Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary hit back at Tejashwi’s remarks, promising a thorough investigation into Rai’s murder. “If Rajkumar Rai had contested from Raghopur, who would have suffered the loss?” he asked pointedly.

Choudhary added that the state government would examine who stood to gain from Rai’s death. “Everyone knows who benefitted from this murder in Raghopur. The Lalu Prasad Yadav family has always protected criminals,” he alleged.