RJD MLA Bhai Virendra: 'I could have been Deputy CM' had I quit Lalu's party
Synopsis
RJD MLA Bhai Virendra has gone public with a striking claim: staying loyal to Lalu Prasad Yadav when the party was down to 22 MLAs cost him the Deputy Chief Minister's chair. The statement — timed amid internal RJD tensions and a photograph with CM Samrat Chaudhary — is as much a loyalty declaration as it is a quiet demand for recognition.
Key Takeaways
RJD MLA Bhai Virendra declared on 11 August that he sacrificed a shot at the Deputy Chief Minister post by staying with the party during its lowest phase.
He said the RJD was reduced to 22 MLAs when several leaders deserted, but he chose to remain with Lalu Prasad Yadav .
Bhai Virendra alleged unnamed individuals within the party were targeting him to protect their own political positions.
A photograph of him meeting Bihar CM Samrat Chaudhary triggered defection speculation, which he denied, calling the meeting purely development-related.
He expressed his desire to see Tejashwi Yadav become Chief Minister of Bihar and said his commitment is to RJD ideology, not personal ambition.
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) legislator Bhai Virendra on 11 August made a pointed declaration of loyalty to party supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav, asserting that his decision to stay with the RJD through its lean years cost him a shot at the Deputy Chief Minister's post in Bihar.
The Sacrifice He Claims
Recalling a period when the RJD was reduced to just 22 MLAs in the Bihar assembly and several senior leaders walked out, Bhai Virendra said he chose to stay. 'Had I also left the party back then, the scenario today would have been different. It is possible that I, rather than Bijendra Prasad Yadav, would have been the Deputy Chief Minister today. However, I have made great sacrifices to remain with the party and Lalu Prasad Yadav,' he said.
Internal Tensions Within RJD
The statement comes amid reports of growing internal differences within the RJD. Bhai Virendra acknowledged that political manoeuvring was being directed against him but said he did not feel compelled to respond to every allegation. He alleged that certain individuals were targeting him to protect their own political standing — a pointed, if unnamed, charge within the party ranks.
The CM Meeting That Sparked Speculation
Political speculation around Bhai Virendra had sharpened after a photograph of him meeting Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary circulated publicly, fuelling conjecture about a possible shift in allegiance. The RJD MLA firmly rejected that reading, stating the meeting was strictly related to regional development issues and carried no political significance.
His Stated Commitment to Tejashwi and RJD Ideology
Bhai Virendra maintained that his political engagement has never been driven by personal ambition or the expectation of a particular post. He said his goal is to carry the RJD's ideology and principles to every village in Bihar, and expressed his desire to see Tejashwi Yadav become the Chief Minister of Bihar. Notably, the statement serves a dual purpose — reaffirming loyalty while also signalling that his contributions to the party have gone unrewarded.
What This Signals
The remarks reflect the undercurrents of discontent that periodically surface within the RJD, particularly as the party navigates opposition politics in Bihar ahead of future electoral cycles. Whether Bhai Virendra's public articulation of sacrifice translates into a demand for greater recognition within the party remains to be seen.
Point of View
A comparison that will not go unnoticed inside the RJD. Whether this is a genuine loyalty signal or a calibrated pressure play for greater recognition ahead of Bihar's next electoral cycle is the question the party leadership will now have to answer.
NationPress
12 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did RJD MLA Bhai Virendra say about his loyalty to Lalu Prasad Yadav?
Bhai Virendra said he stayed with the RJD when the party was reduced to just 22 MLAs and many leaders deserted. He claimed that had he left then, he — rather than Bijendra Prasad Yadav — could have been Bihar's Deputy Chief Minister today.
Why did Bhai Virendra meet Bihar CM Samrat Chaudhary?
Bhai Virendra said the meeting with Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary was strictly related to regional development issues and had no political significance. He rejected speculation that the meeting signalled any change in his political allegiance.
What are the internal differences within the RJD that Bhai Virendra referred to?
Bhai Virendra acknowledged reports of political manoeuvring against him within the RJD. He alleged that certain unnamed individuals were targeting him to protect their own political standing, though he said he did not feel the need to respond to every allegation.
What is Bhai Virendra's political position on Tejashwi Yadav?
Bhai Virendra expressed his desire to see Tejashwi Yadav become the Chief Minister of Bihar. He said his political commitment is to the RJD's ideology and principles, not to securing a personal post.
What was the RJD's difficult phase that Bhai Virendra referred to?
He referred to a period when the RJD held only 22 seats in the Bihar assembly, a significant decline from its earlier dominance. Several party leaders left the RJD during this phase, but Bhai Virendra says he chose to remain with Lalu Prasad Yadav.
