Katihar, Bihar, October 27: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and INDIA bloc’s chief ministerial candidate in Bihar, Tejashwi Yadav, on Sunday said he would “throw the Waqf Act in the dustbin” if the opposition alliance is voted to power in the upcoming state elections.
Addressing a public rally in Katihar, Yadav accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of spreading communal discord and said the RJD would continue to oppose the ruling party’s divisive politics. “When we were in power under Lalu Yadav and Rabri Devi, the RSS did not dare to create chaos in Bihar. If the BJP fears anyone, it is Lalu Yadav,” he said.
Yadav, whose party draws its main support from Muslims and Yadavs — communities that together form a significant portion of Bihar’s electorate — promised to focus on development, employment, and eradicating corruption if elected. The two-phase Bihar assembly election is scheduled for November 6 and November 11, with results to be declared on November 14.
Yadav also announced that his government would double the allowances of representatives under the panchayati raj system, provide them with ₹50 lakh insurance cover and pension, and increase the margin money for public distribution system (PDS) distributors.
His remarks on the Waqf Act come amid growing debate around the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, parts of which were recently stayed by the Supreme Court. A bench led by Chief Justice B.R. Gavai suspended clauses that required a person to be a practicing Muslim for five years to create a Waqf and allowed government officers to classify Waqf property as state land. However, the Court did not stay provisions permitting the inclusion of non-Muslim members in Waqf Boards.
The RJD’s stance has found echo among its leaders. A recent viral video showed RJD’s Qari Sohaib telling a campaign rally that once Yadav becomes chief minister, “all such bills will be torn and thrown away.”
The BJP hit back, accusing the opposition of inciting voters for political gain. “The Waqf Bill was passed in Parliament with the cooperation of all parties. Those opposing it are misleading the public,” said Samrat Choudhary, BJP leader and former state finance minister, in an interview with News18.
The controversy adds a new flashpoint to the state’s high-stakes election, where the INDIA bloc is seeking to unseat the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by the BJP.
