Rohini Acharya arrives in Patna for Chhath, says she will meet Nitish Kumar
Synopsis
Rohini Acharya's Chhath visit to Patna was anything but just a festival trip — she confirmed she will meet Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, described him as her 'uncle', attacked the BJP over rising crime and inflation, and declined to comment on Sonia Gandhi's book. With Bihar elections approaching, her every word is being read as a political signal.
Key Takeaways
Rohini Acharya , daughter of RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav , arrived in Patna on 12 November 2026 for Chhath .
She confirmed she will visit Chief Minister Nitish Kumar , calling him her 'uncle' and citing the Kharna prasad tradition.
She said decisions on her political role within the RJD rest with the party's top leadership.
Acharya called for all opposition parties to unite to remove the BJP from power, backing the INDIA bloc.
She criticised the Bihar government over rising crime, citing police killings and alleged land grabbing by those linked to power.
She declined to comment on Sonia Gandhi 's recently published book, saying she had not yet read it.
Rohini Acharya, daughter of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, arrived in Patna on Thursday, 12 November to celebrate the Chhath festival, using the occasion to comment on state and national politics and train her sights on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government over crime, inflation, and governance lapses.
Meeting Nitish Kumar on the Cards
Speaking to reporters at Patna airport, Acharya extended Chhath greetings to the people of Bihar and those observing the festival fast. When asked whether she would call on Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, she said she had no hesitation in doing so, describing him warmly as her uncle.
'Why wouldn't I go? He is my uncle. Since it is Chhath, I will certainly visit him to partake in the Kharna prasad,' she said.
Political Role and RJD Responsibilities
On speculation about her taking up an active political role or being handed a larger responsibility within the RJD, Acharya said such decisions rested entirely with the party's top leadership. She added that her immediate focus was on celebrating Chhath.
When asked about references to Nitish Kumar in connection with Sonia Gandhi's recently published book, Acharya said she had not read the book yet and would comment only after doing so.
Opposition Unity and the INDIA Bloc
Commenting on the INDIA bloc and opposition unity, Acharya maintained that all opposition parties must set aside their differences and come together if they were serious about removing the BJP from power. She added that the political parties concerned would themselves determine the coalition's structure going forward.
Law and Order, Centre Policies Under Fire
Acharya also criticised the state government over the law-and-order situation, alleging that crime was rising across Bihar and pointing to incidents in which police personnel had been killed. She referred to allegations of land grabbing against individuals linked to those in power.
Notably, she cited the silver robbery in Darbhanga and a terrorist attack on security personnel in Jammu and Kashmir to question the Centre's policies on internal security. Taking a swipe at critics of her father, she said those who had once questioned Lalu Prasad were now being assessed by the public, which could judge the gap between their words and actions.
Other Remarks
On a lighter note, when asked about the wedding of the daughter of Mokama MLA Anant Singh, Acharya offered her congratulations and wished the newlywed a happy and prosperous future.
With Bihar assembly elections on the horizon and the RJD seeking to consolidate its position, Acharya's visit and her careful but pointed political statements signal the family's continued involvement in the state's political narrative heading into the festival season.
Point of View
Sharp toward the BJP — reveal the RJD's current tactical posture: keep the door open to potential realignment while sustaining oppositional pressure on the ruling alliance. Her non-answer on Sonia Gandhi's book, citing unread status, is a deft dodge of a potentially fractious intra-opposition controversy. The speculation around her formal political role refuses to die down, and her consistent deflection to 'party leadership' may itself be a signal that a formal induction is not imminent. In a state where festival optics matter as much as policy debates, the Kharna prasad visit to Nitish Kumar — if it happens — will be parsed in Patna newsrooms long after the diyas go out.
NationPress
12 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Rohini Acharya visit Patna on 12 November 2026?
Rohini Acharya travelled to Patna to celebrate the Chhath festival. She also used the occasion to speak to reporters on state and national politics, targeting the BJP-led government over crime and inflation in Bihar.
Will Rohini Acharya meet Chief Minister Nitish Kumar during her Chhath visit?
Yes, Acharya confirmed she will meet Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, describing him as her uncle and saying she intended to visit him to partake in the Kharna prasad as part of Chhath traditions.
What did Rohini Acharya say about her political role in the RJD?
Acharya said any decision about her taking up an active political role or a larger responsibility in the RJD rests with the party's top leadership. She added that her current focus was on celebrating Chhath.
What were Rohini Acharya's key criticisms of the Bihar government?
She alleged that crime was rising across Bihar and cited incidents involving the killing of police personnel. She also pointed to allegations of land grabbing by individuals linked to those in power, and referenced the silver robbery in Darbhanga as evidence of deteriorating law and order.
What did Rohini Acharya say about Sonia Gandhi's book and Nitish Kumar?
When asked about references to Nitish Kumar in Sonia Gandhi's recently published book, Acharya said she had not yet read it and would comment only after doing so, declining to offer any view at this stage.
