Patna —
In a dramatic turn of events ahead of the Bihar state assembly elections, a local politician staged an emotional protest outside the residence of former Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, tearing his clothes in public after being denied a party ticket.
The incident occurred soon after the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) released its list of 143 candidates for the upcoming elections — a list that did not include Madan Shah, a long-time party worker.
Speaking to the media, Shah accused RJD leader Sanjay Yadav of demanding a bribe of 27 million Indian rupees (approximately $320,000) in exchange for an election ticket.
“Lalu Prasad promised me a ticket for the 2025 Bihar elections,” Shah said tearfully. “But when I refused to pay the money, they gave it to someone else. I sacrificed everything — even postponed my children’s marriages — for this party, and this is what I got.”
Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos as Shah ripped his kurta, lay down on the road, and chanted slogans demanding justice. The episode has reignited allegations of corruption and favoritism within one of Bihar’s most powerful political parties.
The RJD’s candidate list includes Lalu’s younger son, Tejashwi Yadav, who will contest from Raghopur, while party leaders say the list focuses on backward communities and minorities.
The Bihar elections will take place in two phases — on November 6 and 11, with vote counting scheduled for November 14.
Political observers say the incident exposes the growing frustration among grassroots workers and highlights the opaque process of ticket distribution in Indian regional politics.
