RJD leader asks Bihar chief minister to erect full-size statues of three senior politicians

Tejashwi Yadav, the head of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), has formally written to Bihar’s chief minister, Nitish Kumar, seeking permission to install life‑size statues of three senior leaders – Ram Vilas Paswan, Sharad Yadav and Raghuvansh Prasad Singh – in the state’s public spaces. The letter, which was made public earlier this week, asks that the monuments be placed at prominent locations to honour the contributions of the late politicians.

Each of the three figures holds a distinct place in Bihar’s political history. Ram Vilas Paswan, a Dalit stalwart and founder of the Lok Janshakti Party, served multiple terms in the Union cabinet and was known for championing the rights of marginalized communities. Sharad Yadav, a veteran socialist who has switched allegiances several times, was a former minister in both state and central governments and is credited with nurturing the Janata‑Dal‑United’s early growth. Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, another RJD veteran, represented the party in the Lok Sabha and was respected for his grassroots activism.

The Hindu reported that the move is viewed as part of the RJD’s broader strategy to present itself as a party that stands for “A to Z” castes and communities. By invoking the legacies of leaders from Dalit, OBC and socialist backgrounds, the party hopes to reinforce its image as an inclusive platform ahead of the next electoral cycle.

Statues have long been used in Bihar as symbols of political legitimacy. Past governments have erected monuments to figures such as Lalu Prasad Yadav and Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia, often timed to coincide with election campaigns or anniversaries. Such gestures are intended to cement a leader’s place in public memory while signaling the ruling party’s ideological leanings. In this context, the demand for new statues can be seen as a bid to reshape the visual landscape of power in Patna and other districts.

If the chief minister accedes to the request, it could provide the RJD with a tangible rallying point for its supporters, especially among the Dalit and OBC voters who hold the three leaders in high regard. Conversely, critics argue that allocating public space for partisan monuments may divert resources from pressing developmental needs. The CM’s response, which has not yet been issued, will likely be watched closely by political analysts.

Regardless of the outcome, the episode underscores how symbolic acts such as statue installations continue to play a role in Bihar’s caste‑driven politics, offering parties a way to link historical reverence with contemporary electoral ambitions.