Tejashwi Yadav slams BJP's 'Aashirwad Ka Diya' drive amid Bihar floods
Synopsis
With Bihar underwater and flood victims awaiting relief, RJD's Tejashwi Yadav has turned the BJP's 'Aashirwad Ka Diya' campaign — planned for PM Modi's birthday on 17 September — into a political flashpoint, alleging ₹100 crore in state-sponsored spending on diyas while the flood-hit poor go unattended. It is a contrast that the Opposition will press hard.
Key Takeaways
Tejashwi Yadav criticised the BJP's 'Aashirwad Ka Diya' campaign, planned for 17 September — PM Modi 's birthday — amid ongoing Bihar floods.
BJP National President Nitin Nabin called on supporters to light diyas between 6 pm and 7 pm on 17 September as part of the 'Seva Sankalp Abhiyan' .
Yadav alleged the government was reportedly spending ₹100 crore on birthday celebrations while flood victims lacked adequate relief.
In an X post , Yadav accused the Bihar government of running a state-sponsored campaign instead of prioritising flood assistance.
The BJP's month-long 'Seva Sankalp Abhiyan' also marks PM Modi's 25 years in public life and includes blood donation drives and outreach programmes.
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) National Working President and Bihar Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav on 16 September 2026 launched a sharp attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over its planned 'Aashirwad Ka Diya' campaign to mark Prime Minister Narendra Modi's birthday, arguing that the initiative is deeply out of touch with the flood devastation currently gripping Bihar.
What the BJP Campaign Involves
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's birthday falls on 17 September, which the BJP will observe as part of its month-long 'Seva Sankalp Abhiyan'. BJP National President Nitin Nabin has appealed to supporters to light a diya at their homes between 6 pm and 7 pm on 17 September and pray for the Prime Minister's long life and good health. The campaign also marks Modi's 25 years in public life and includes blood donation drives and public outreach programmes. In Bihar, the party has additionally announced plans to take the campaign to beneficiaries of government welfare schemes.
Tejashwi's Broadside Against the Government
Reacting to the initiative, Tejashwi Yadav questioned the decision to organise the 'Aashirwad Ka Diya' campaign at a time when a large number of people in Bihar are battling flood displacement, unemployment, and rising prices. He alleged that the government had little to offer flood victims but was reportedly prepared to spend ₹100 crore on birthday celebrations — a figure he raised without providing a sourced breakdown.
Yadav also invoked the unfulfilled promise of 'Achhe Din', alleging that ordinary citizens continue to struggle with difficulties in floods, inflation, unemployment, education, and healthcare. This comes amid a wider pattern of the Opposition seizing on contrast moments — welfare optics versus crisis management — ahead of electoral cycles in Bihar.
The X Post That Sharpened the Attack
In a post on X, Yadav alleged that the Bihar government was organising a state-sponsored 'Aashirwad Ka Diya' programme while the state was in the grip of a severe flood situation. He claimed that instead of channelling resources toward flood relief, money was being diverted to procure lamps, wicks, and oil for the campaign. The post drew significant attention, with Yadav pointing to the scale of flood-affected residents and accusing the BJP-led government of failing to provide adequate relief.
Broader Context: Bihar Floods and Political Stakes
Bihar is among the most flood-prone states in India, and annual inundation of low-lying districts along the Kosi, Gandak, and Bagmati rivers regularly displaces hundreds of thousands of residents. Notably, flood relief management has been a recurring flashpoint between the RJD-led Opposition and the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the state. The timing of the BJP's birthday campaign — coinciding with what officials acknowledge is an active flood season — has handed the Opposition a ready political contrast.
The BJP has not yet issued a formal response to Yadav's specific allegations regarding campaign expenditure. As Bihar braces for further rainfall, the political contest over flood optics is expected to intensify in the days ahead.
Point of View
However, is sound: every rupee spent on ceremonial optics during an active flood crisis is a gift to the Opposition. Bihar's flood misery is structural and annual, yet successive governments — of varying stripes — have struggled to shift from reactive relief to preemptive mitigation. What this episode really exposes is not just a birthday campaign but a governance culture that has never adequately priced the political cost of being seen celebrating while citizens are displaced. With Bihar's electoral calendar never truly quiet, the BJP's failure to pre-empt this contrast — or respond to it with specifics on relief spending — is the more significant lapse.
NationPress
16 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 'Aashirwad Ka Diya' campaign that Tejashwi Yadav has criticised?
The 'Aashirwad Ka Diya' campaign is a BJP initiative in which supporters are called to light diyas at home between 6 pm and 7 pm on 17 September to mark PM Narendra Modi's birthday and pray for his wellbeing. It forms part of the party's month-long 'Seva Sankalp Abhiyan', which also celebrates Modi's 25 years in public life.
Why is Tejashwi Yadav opposing the campaign?
Yadav argues the campaign is inappropriate given Bihar's ongoing flood crisis, alleging that flood victims lack adequate relief while the government reportedly spends ₹100 crore on birthday celebrations. He made the charge in a post on X, accusing the Bihar government of running a state-sponsored diya programme instead of prioritising disaster assistance.
What is the BJP's 'Seva Sankalp Abhiyan'?
'Seva Sankalp Abhiyan' is a month-long BJP programme beginning 17 September that includes blood donation drives, public outreach, and the 'Aashirwad Ka Diya' initiative. In Bihar, the party has also planned to reach out to beneficiaries of government welfare schemes as part of the campaign.
How serious is the Bihar flood situation in September 2026?
Bihar is one of India's most flood-prone states, with rivers including the Kosi, Gandak, and Bagmati regularly inundating low-lying districts each monsoon season. The Opposition has cited a large number of flood-affected residents in the current crisis, though precise official figures were not specified in available reports.
Has the BJP responded to Tejashwi Yadav's allegations?
As of 16 September 2026, the BJP had not issued a formal response to Yadav's specific allegation of ₹100 crore in campaign expenditure. The party has defended the 'Seva Sankalp Abhiyan' as a service-oriented initiative marking the Prime Minister's birthday and 25 years in public life.
