The recent passage of the Waqf Amendment Bill in Parliament has triggered significant political ripples in Bihar, putting the BJP’s allies Janata Dal (United) and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) on the defensive, even as the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) seizes the opportunity to strengthen its Muslim support base. With Assembly elections on the horizon, the social justice parties aligned with the BJP find themselves scrambling to contain the fallout amid resignations and criticism from within their own ranks.
Internal dissent and damage control
The JD(U) is facing a wave of resignations from Muslim leaders, with five quitting within three days over the party’s support to the controversial Bill. The party has attempted to downplay these exits, labelling them as insignificant, while holding press conferences to defend the legislation. However, even senior Muslim leaders like former Rajya Sabha MP Ghulam Rasool Baliyawi and MLC Ghulam Gous have publicly voiced discontent. JD(U) spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan Prasad claimed the law was being misunderstood and would ultimately benefit poor Muslims, but the dissent indicates a deeper unease within the party.
The LJP (Ram Vilas) is also grappling with criticism. Chirag Paswan, party chief and Union Minister, acknowledged the community’s anger, stating he respected the sentiments of Muslims and recalled his father Ram Vilas Paswan’s history of advocating for minority rights. He stressed that the party had proposed sending the Bill to a Joint Parliamentary Committee and insisted it was in the interest of marginalized Muslim communities. However, the party’s voter base overlap with Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party, led by Pashupati Kumar Paras—who has opposed the Bill—adds to the political complexity.
RJD sharpens its attack
Sensing political advantage, the RJD has intensified its criticism of JD(U) and LJP, accusing them of betraying secular values. Tejashwi Yadav, calling the law anti-minority, vowed to scrap it if voted to power. The RJD also shared an image of Nitish Kumar in RSS attire, dubbing him “Cheatish Kumar,” in an attempt to erode his secular image.
JD(U) leaders argue that the party has already lost much of its Muslim support and that the impact of the controversy may be limited. However, the RJD is pushing the narrative that this issue affects all constitutional-minded citizens, not just Muslims, and could become a rallying point in the coming elections. RJD leaders are even linking the debate to caste representation in religious institutions, expanding the scope of their campaign beyond a single community.
