Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and Bihar Assembly Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav was detained by police on Wednesday, 19 August during the party's 'Lok Bhavan March' in Patna, as demonstrators clashed with security forces at Dak Bungalow Crossing. Police deployed water cannons to push back the crowd after protesters attempted to breach barricades, turning what began as a planned opposition march into a sharp political confrontation.

What Triggered the March

The RJD organised the march over a cluster of grievances: student unemployment, examination policy disputes, and the alleged use of an AK-47 during a student protest in Siwan. Party workers carried a large cutout depicting the assault rifle to underscore the Siwan controversy, which has become a flashpoint in Bihar's opposition politics. The march was intended to reach Lok Bhavan, the seat of the Bihar government.

Confrontation at Dak Bungalow Crossing

As the procession moved through central Patna, demonstrators attempted to cross police barricades at Dak Bungalow Crossing, prompting authorities to deploy water cannons. Tejashwi Yadav was subsequently detained. The RJD National Working President alleged that the police action was being carried out on the direct instructions of Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary, a charge the government has not publicly addressed.

What RJD Leaders Said

RJD Lok Sabha member from Patliputra, Misa Bharti, also participated in the march and questioned who had authorised the alleged deployment of an AK-47 against students in Siwan. She argued that if the order had been sanctioned by the District Magistrate or the Superintendent of Police, accountability must extend to those officers. Tejashwi Yadav, before his detention, stated that attempts to suppress the demonstration would not weaken the movement and that people had taken to the streets to voice genuine concerns.

The BPSC Examination Grievance

The RJD's mobilisation coincided with a separate student agitation in Patna over the BPSC TRE-4 recruitment examination. While the examination advertisement has been released, candidates are opposing the introduction of negative marking in both the preliminary and main examinations, demanding the provision be withdrawn. The opposition has sought to link this examination controversy with broader unemployment concerns in its political offensive against the state government.

Traffic Disruptions and What Comes Next

Patna Traffic Police imposed movement restrictions around Dak Bungalow Crossing in view of the march, with traffic from Patna Junction and the railway station diverted to alternative routes. The detention of Tejashwi Yadav is likely to intensify political pressure on the Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government, with the RJD expected to escalate its agitation in the coming days.