Patna: The Rashtriya Janata Dal suffered a political setback on Monday after senior leader and former Bihar minister Shivchandra Ram resigned from all party posts amid the ongoing MLC election developments. Ram broke down during a press conference while alleging that he had been deeply hurt by the party’s recent decisions and the manner in which he was allegedly ignored in the nomination process.
The emotional resignation came in the middle of political activity around the Bihar Legislative Council polls. According to reports, Ram was upset after his name was not cleared for nomination despite strong expectations among his supporters. The suspense ended after Sunil Singh’s nomination became clear, indicating that Ram had been overlooked for the seat.
Addressing reporters, Shivchandra Ram struggled to hold back tears and said the last few days had been extremely painful for him. He said that the way he had spent the past three to four days was something he would not wish even upon others. Reports said he openly expressed anguish over the party’s internal process and questioned how decisions were being taken.
Ram has long been considered an important Dalit face of the RJD. He has served as a legislator in Bihar and also held the post of Art, Culture and Youth Affairs Minister in the state government between 2015 and 2017. He earlier represented Mahua and Rajapakar Assembly constituencies and later contested parliamentary elections from Hajipur on an RJD ticket.
His resignation has triggered fresh discussion about internal unease within the RJD at a time when the party is preparing for upcoming political battles in Bihar. The episode has also brought attention to the representation of Dalit leaders within party structures and the pressures surrounding candidate selection during elections.
Ram’s supporters believe the former minister deserved stronger consideration from the leadership given his long association with the party and his role in mobilising Dalit voters. However, the RJD has not issued a detailed official response to his allegations so far.
The development is likely to create discomfort for the party leadership, particularly as the opposition camp is trying to project unity against the ruling alliance in Bihar. While one resignation may not immediately alter the party’s electoral arithmetic, the public manner in which Ram expressed his disappointment could give political rivals an opportunity to question the RJD’s internal functioning.
For now, Shivchandra Ram’s emotional exit has turned a routine nomination exercise into a larger political controversy. The coming days will show whether the RJD leadership reaches out to him or whether the resignation marks the beginning of a deeper realignment in Bihar’s opposition politics.