Senior BJP leader Rajiv Pratap Rudy says party does not value Rajput community

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Saran MP Rajiv Pratap Rudy has stated that the BJP does not give much importance to the Rajput community and that no Rajputs in Bihar trust any Rajput leaders. Speaking to reporters in Chapra, Saran, on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, Mr. Rudy addressed the recent Bihar Legislative Council polls where Janata Dal(United) candidate Anand Pushkar lost the Saran Teachers Constituency seat to independent candidate Rahul Raj, who is a Rajput. Mr. Pushkar, a member of the Brahmin community and son of the late Kedar Nath Pandey who previously held the seat four times for the Communist Party of India, alleged that the BJP betrayed him. He claimed that all BJP MPs and MLAs from Saran, including Mr. Rudy, Janardan Singh Sigriwal, and Radha Mohan Singh, openly helped the independent candidate win.

Controversy

A political row has also started over newly elected independent MLCs Rahul Raj and Bansidhar Brajwasi joining the BJP. The Rashtriya Janata Dal demanded their disqualification under the anti-defection law, submitting a memorandum to Acting Bihar Legislative Council Chairman Ram Bachan Rai on Wednesday, November 4, 2026. Social activist Thakur Bunty Singh noted that despite Saran having nine MLAs, four MPs, and two MLCs from the Rajput community, the area lacks representation in the state and central governments.

Context

Political alliances and caste dynamics play a major role in Bihar elections, where parties carefully balance community support and internal rivalries. Disputes over seat sharing and alleged betrayals between allies often surface following unexpected electoral losses in local legislative bodies.