Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav on Sunday, 20 September 2026, urged both the Centre and the Bihar government to provide immediate financial assistance of ₹15,000 each to farmers and families affected by floods and drought, and to formally declare the state a national disaster. Addressing a press conference in Patna, Yadav said Bihar was grappling with a twin crisis that had left more than 45 lakh people reeling.

Scale of the Crisis

Yadav claimed that over 45 lakh people across Bihar had been impacted by floods, while several other districts were simultaneously facing drought-like conditions due to severely deficient rainfall. According to available data, the state had received approximately 35–36 per cent less rainfall than normal by mid-September. Crop damage has been widespread, and Yadav demanded a formal government survey to quantify agricultural losses before disbursing any relief.

What Yadav Demanded

The RJD leader called for an immediate cash transfer of at least ₹15,000 per affected farmer and family, a comprehensive crop loss survey, sustained operation of community kitchens and relief camps, and a central declaration of national disaster status for Bihar. He argued that even after floodwaters recede, displaced families continue to need food, clothing, utensils, and other essential supplies — a phase he said the current relief framework was failing to address.

Allegations Against NDA Governments

Yadav trained his criticism squarely on the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) administrations at both the Centre and the state level, alleging that community kitchens and relief camps in flood-hit areas had not been operated for an adequate duration. He also questioned why drought-affected districts were excluded from the itinerary when the Union Agriculture Minister visited flood-affected zones, and challenged the government on the utilisation of funds under the PM-KISAN scheme and the PM CARES Fund for Bihar's relief.

Yadav drew attention to a lighting ceremony held to mark Prime Minister Narendra Modi's birthday, alleging that government resources were diverted to the event at a time when relief operations should have taken precedence. He also recalled that the Mahagathbandhan government in 2015 had earmarked four per cent of the state budget for disaster relief, and questioned what the present administration had done with equivalent allocations.

Call for Senior Leaders to Visit Bihar

Yadav urged BJP state president Nitin Nabin to formally request Prime Minister Modi, Union Home Minister, and the Union Agriculture Minister to personally visit both flood-affected and drought-hit districts of Bihar. He stated that despite a central team's earlier visit, the problems in affected areas remained largely unresolved.

What Comes Next

The Bihar government and the Centre are yet to formally respond to Yadav's demands. The opposition's call for a national disaster declaration would, if accepted, unlock additional central funds and a more structured relief apparatus — a move that the ruling coalition has resisted so far. With the crisis ongoing, pressure on both governments is likely to mount in the coming days.