RJD leaders express anger over Bihar government downgrading Tejashwi’s security cover

The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) on Friday (January 23, 2026) targeted the ruling government in Bihar, a day after the security cover of party leader and Leader of Opposition in State Assembly Tejashwi Yadav was downgraded from Z to Y+.

Security cover of several Opposition leaders in Bihar have been withdrawn, including Bihar Congress chief Rajesh Ram whereas the security cover of several National Democratic Alliance (NDA) leaders have been upgraded, including newly-elected Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president Nitin Nabin from Y+ to Z category.

RJD spokesperson Ejaz Ahmed expressed serious objection and concern over curtailing the security of the Leader of the Opposition in Bihar Assembly, stating that the way the State administration is functioning clearly shows how the government is working against the Opposition in a democratic system.

Anxiety of government: RJD

“This kind of action by the ruling party of the State and Centre is a conspiracy to suppress the voice of the Opposition. By reducing Tejashwi’s security even before the Opposition’s struggles and movements, the government has clearly revealed its nervousness and anxiety,” Mr. Ahmed said.

He further added that the government is uneasy because of the way Mr. Tejashwi was “exposing the government’s failures on every front”.

“Everyone knows that Tejashwi ji has always worked among the people on public issues and will continue to raise his voice in the interest of the people. The ruling party is anxious, and their nervousness shows that they do not want the Leader of the Opposition’s message on public issues to reach the people,” Mr. Ahmed said.

Not working for people

He asserted that the way NDA leaders, ministers, MPs, and MLAs are making baseless statements and engaging in irrelevant rhetoric to divert attention from public issues clearly shows that the government is not interested in working for the people.

“The government is cornered on the issue of the NEET aspirant’s death case in Bihar, and to divert attention from the embarrassment, they are acting out of revenge by reducing the security cover of the Leader of the Opposition, which is unjustified,” Mr. Ahmed said.

Last year ahead of the Assembly election, the security cover of Mr. Yadav was enhanced from Y+ to Z category in August. Apart from Mr. Ram, the other leaders whose security cover has been withdrawn include RJD leader and former Speaker Uday Narayan Choudhary and Congress MLC Madan Mohan Jha.

Whereas 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 have been upgraded to Z category as per the notification of the Union Home Ministry. Now, Bihar’s special branch will make the arrangement accordingly.

RJD spokesperson and former MLA Shakti Singh Yadav said the ruling government is “taking revenge” on Mr. Tejashwi by reducing his security cover.

On the other hand, JD(U) spokesperson Abhishek Jha said that upgradation of security is a matter of the home department and they take the decision according to the post they acquire.

Bihar Minister Mohammad Zama Khan said Mr. Tejashwi often remains absent from the Assembly nor meets the public as he used to do earlier. “In such a situation, if his security cover has been downgraded, it is completely in accordance with the rules. The government neither suppresses anyone nor shows any favouritism. The government’s security arrangements are decided as per the prescribed rules and regulations, and the decision has been taken accordingly,” Mr. Khan said.