RJD women's wing ex-chief Ritu Jaiswal joins BJP in Patna
Synopsis
A former RJD women's wing state chief who outpolled her own party's official candidate as an independent in 2025 has now joined the BJP — a defection that signals deepening cracks in the RJD's organisational base and could shift the political balance in north Bihar's competitive Sitamarhi belt.
Key Takeaways
Ritu Jaiswal , former RJD women's wing state president, joined the BJP on 26 May 2025 in Patna .
She was inducted in the presence of BJP Bihar state president Sanjay Saraogi and Minister Dilip Jaiswal .
In the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections , she contested independently from Parihar and polled over 65,000 votes , finishing ahead of the official RJD candidate.
She lost the 2020 Parihar seat by just 1,569 votes and the 2024 Sheohar Lok Sabha seat on an RJD ticket.
Observers see her switch as a potentially significant shift in electoral equations across north Bihar and the Sitamarhi region .
Former Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) women's wing state president Ritu Jaiswal formally joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday, 26 May, at a ceremony held at the party's state headquarters in Patna. The switch marks a notable defection from the RJD, Bihar's principal opposition force, to the ruling alliance.
How the Switch Unfolded
Jaiswal took BJP membership in the presence of BJP Bihar state president Sanjay Saraogi and Bihar Revenue and Land Reform Minister Dilip Jaiswal. The formal induction ceremony was held at the party office in Patna, drawing attention from political circles across north Bihar.
Speaking after joining, Ritu Jaiswal said her decision was guided by national interest and expressed admiration for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP's commitment to the philosophy of Antyodaya — the idea that government benefits must reach the most marginalised sections of society. She also cited the Ayushman Bharat health scheme, arguing it had meaningfully reduced the financial burden on poor families during serious illnesses.
Acknowledging that the move would invite criticism and social media backlash, she said she was prepared to face it.
Saraogi's Salvo at the RJD
BJP state president Sanjay Saraogi used the occasion to go on the offensive against the RJD, asserting that Prime Minister Modi's growing popularity was drawing leaders away from the opposition. He claimed that many within the RJD now aspired to join the BJP's ranks.
A Career Defined by Narrow Margins
Ritu Jaiswal's political trajectory in Bihar has been marked by competitive but ultimately unsuccessful electoral bids. In the 2020 Bihar Assembly elections, she contested from the Parihar Assembly constituency on an RJD ticket and lost to BJP MLA Gayatri Devi by a slim margin of 1,569 votes.
The RJD fielded her again in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from the Sheohar constituency, where she was defeated by Janata Dal (United) leader Lovely Anand. Subsequently, after reportedly being denied an RJD ticket for the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections, she contested as an independent from Parihar and secured over 65,000 votes — finishing ahead of the official RJD candidate, a result that underscored her grassroots support base.
What This Means for North Bihar Politics
Political observers are watching the development closely, viewing Jaiswal's entry into the BJP as a potentially significant realignment in the electoral equations of north Bihar, particularly the Sitamarhi region. Her demonstrated vote-pulling ability as an independent, combined with her organisational experience as the RJD women's wing chief, could add meaningful ground-level strength to the BJP in a competitive belt. This comes amid broader signs of turbulence within the RJD, with the party having faced a string of defections and electoral setbacks in recent cycles.
Point of View
After two competitive electoral runs, reflects a recurring pattern: the party's ticket-distribution process has repeatedly alienated organisationally strong, electorally viable leaders. The BJP, meanwhile, is systematically absorbing these figures to consolidate its hold on north Bihar's OBC and women voter blocs — a strategy that has paid dividends in past cycles and shows no sign of slowing.
NationPress
21 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Ritu Jaiswal and why is she joining the BJP?
Ritu Jaiswal is the former state president of the RJD women's wing in Bihar. She joined the BJP on 26 May 2025, citing national interest, Prime Minister Modi's leadership, and the party's Antyodaya philosophy of delivering government benefits to the most marginalised citizens.
What is Ritu Jaiswal's electoral history in Bihar?
She contested the 2020 Bihar Assembly elections from Parihar on an RJD ticket, losing by 1,569 votes to BJP MLA Gayatri Devi. In 2024, she lost the Sheohar Lok Sabha seat on an RJD ticket to JD(U)'s Lovely Anand. In 2025, after reportedly being denied an RJD ticket, she ran independently from Parihar and secured over 65,000 votes, finishing ahead of the official RJD candidate.
Who was present at the BJP joining ceremony in Patna?
The ceremony was held at the BJP's state headquarters in Patna. BJP Bihar state president Sanjay Saraogi and Bihar Revenue and Land Reform Minister Dilip Jaiswal were present when Ritu Jaiswal took party membership.
What is the political significance of this defection for Bihar?
Political observers view Jaiswal's entry into the BJP as a potentially important realignment in north Bihar, particularly in the Sitamarhi region. Her ability to independently mobilise over 65,000 votes suggests substantial grassroots influence that could strengthen the BJP's position ahead of future electoral contests.
What did BJP state president Sanjay Saraogi say about the RJD?
Saraogi used the occasion to attack the RJD, claiming that Prime Minister Modi's popularity was prompting many RJD leaders to seek BJP membership. He framed Jaiswal's switch as part of a broader trend of opposition leaders gravitating toward the BJP.
