A single word – ‘becheara’ – unleashed pandemonium in Bihar’s assembly, pitting LJP-RV against RJD in a bitter showdown over the dignity of late Ram Vilas Paswan. Protests rocked the premises after RJD’s Kumar Sarvajeet from Bodh Gaya used the term while praising the leader’s contributions and seeking a memorial statue.
LJP-RV lawmakers, viewing the comment as a personal affront, disrupted the house and gathered outside, baying for an apology from RJD chief Tejashwi Yadav. State president Raju Tiwari led the charge, recounting Paswan’s illustrious journey: 50 years in politics, collaborations with six prime ministers, and unwavering service to the marginalized.
‘First apologize for the insult, then talk statues,’ Tiwari retorted to queries about Sarvajeet’s proposal. The RJD MLA, undeterred, labeled Paswan a ‘Dalit icon’ and people’s champion, accusing LJP-RV of petty jealousy.
De-escalation came via RJD members’ rallying cry of ‘Ram Vilas Paswan Amar Rahe,’ which quelled the unrest. Yet, the incident lays bare simmering tensions in Bihar’s volatile political arena, where historical figures like Paswan remain potent symbols.
Analysts see this as a preview of fiercer clashes ahead, with parties vying to claim Paswan’s mantle amid shifting electoral dynamics. The assembly’s fragile peace hangs in balance.