Leader of Opposition in Bihar Assembly and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav in Patna on December 1, 2025. | Photo credit: PTI
The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) on Friday (Jan 23, 2026) targeted the ruling Bihar government, a day after the security cover of party leader and Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly Tejashwi Yadav was downgraded from Z to Y+.
The security cover of several opposition leaders in Bihar has been withdrawn, including Bihar Congress chief Rajesh Ram, while the security cover of several National Democratic Alliance (NDA) leaders has been increased, including newly elected Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president Nitin Nabin from Y+ to Z category.
RJD spokesperson Ejaz Ahmed expressed serious objections and concerns over the security restrictions on the Leader of Opposition in the Bihar Assembly and said that the way the state administration is functioning clearly shows how the government in a democratic system is working against the opposition.
Government anxiety: RJD
“This kind of action by the ruling party State and Center is a conspiracy to suppress the voice of the opposition. By reducing the security of Tejashwi even before the opposition’s struggle and movement, the government has clearly revealed its nervousness and anxiety,” Ahmed said.
He further added that the government is concerned that Mr. Tejashwi is “exposing the failure of the government on all fronts”.
“Everyone knows that Tejashwi ji has always worked among the people on public issues and will continue to raise her voice for the sake of the people. The ruling party is worried and their nervousness shows that they do not want the message of the opposition leader on public issues to reach the people,” Ahmed said.
He doesn’t work for people
He claimed that the way NDA leaders, ministers, MPs and MLAs are making baseless statements and engaging in irrelevant rhetoric to divert attention from public affairs clearly shows that the government is not interested in working for the people.
“The government is being cornered on the Bihar NEET aspirant’s death case and to divert attention from the embarrassment, it is acting out of revenge by reducing the security cover of the opposition leader, which is unwarranted,” Mr. Ahmed said.
Last year before the Assembly elections, Mr Yadav’s security cover was upgraded from Y+ to Z category in August. Apart from Mr Ram, other leaders whose security cover was withdrawn include RJD leader and former Speaker Uday Narayan Choudhary and Congress MLC Madan Mohan Jha.
While the security cover of Janata Dal (United) leader and Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan alias Lalan Singh, Bihar BJP leader and Health Minister Mangal Pandey, Bihar BJP state president Sanjay Saraogi has been upgraded to Z category as per Union Home Ministry notification. Now Bihar Special Branch will make arrangements accordingly.
RJD spokesperson and former MLA Shakti Singh Yadav said the ruling government was “retaliating” against Mr Tejashwi by reducing his security cover.
On the other hand, JD(U) spokesperson Abhishek Jha said that increasing security is the matter of the home ministry and they decide according to the post they get.
Bihar Minister Mohammad Zama Khan said Mr. Tejashwi often remains absent from rallies or meets the public as he used to. “In such a situation, if his security cover has been reduced, it is completely in accordance with the rules. The government is not oppressing anyone or showing any favoritism. The government’s security measures are decided according to the prescribed rules and regulations and the decision was taken accordingly,” Mr Khan said.
Published – 23 Jan 2026 19:46 IST
