Tejashwi demands statues and state recognition for three late Union Ministers

Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav has written to Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary seeking life-size statues of three deceased leaders and the declaration of their death anniversaries as official state functions. The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) National Working President's letter covers former Union Ministers Sharad Yadav, Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, and Ram Vilas Paswan.

A Signal of Caste Coalition Politics

The demand represents part of the RJD's broader strategy to position itself as a party representing "A to Z" castes and communities. The move signals the party's intention to expand beyond its traditional Muslim-Yadav (MY) vote bank, building an inclusive coalition that brings together both backward and forward castes. The three leaders reflect this diversity: Sharad Yadav belonged to the Other Backwards Classes (OBC), Ram Vilas Paswan was from the Scheduled Caste (SC), and Raghuvansh Prasad Singh was a Rajput, an upper-caste leader. All three had served as Union Ministers in the Central government.

Honouring 'Stalwart Socialist Leaders'

In his letter, Tejashwi Yadav described the three as distinguished figures who transcended regional boundaries. "The late Raghuvansh Prasad, the late Sharad Yadav, and the late Ram Vilas were not only distinguished figures of the state but also stalwart socialist leaders. Through their social commitment and active political lives, these leaders rendered remarkable service to Bihar. They were illustrious sons of the nation, and we, the people of Bihar, will forever remain indebted to them for their personalities and their contributions," the RJD leader wrote.

Unfulfilled Demands of Raghuvansh Babu

The letter also reminded the Chief Minister of pending requests made by Raghuvansh Prasad Singh before his death. A few days before his passing, Singh had written to then Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressing certain demands that remain unaddressed even after six years. "Even after six years, no positive action has been taken regarding those demands. I am confident that you will take the necessary steps to fulfil his pending requests. Honouring and fulfilling the late Raghuvansh Babu's final wishes would be a true tribute to him," Tejashwi Yadav stated.

In his final days, Singh had sent three separate letters to Nitish Kumar. His demands included bringing an amendment for MGNREGA, which is now known as VB G RAM G (Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin)), holding the Republic Day flag hoisting in Vaishali, and bringing back the bhiksha patra (alms bowl) of Lord Buddha from Afghanistan.

Legacy of Social Justice

Describing Sharad Yadav, the RJD leader said he was active for a long period in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, representing Bihar, and was a towering socialist leader. "Throughout his life, he championed the politics of 'social justice,' making unprecedented contributions to the upliftment of the downtrodden and backward classes and improving the standard of living for the common man," Tejashwi Yadav wrote.

Similarly, Ram Vilas Paswan was characterized as a proponent of egalitarian development and socialism. "He dedicated his entire life to the social upliftment, struggle, security, and development of the oppressed, downtrodden, and marginalised sections of society," the letter stated.

Source: The Hindu