Editor’s Note
This report details the Rashtriya Janata Dal’s (RJD) internal review following its unexpected defeat in the Bihar Assembly elections. The analysis, led by State President Mangli Lal Mandal, examined strategic and organizational shortcomings to inform the party’s future direction.
Following the unexpected loss in the Bihar Assembly elections, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has conducted a two-tier electoral review to understand its strategic and organizational weaknesses. This review was led by State President Mangli Lal Mandal. In the review meeting, Mangli Lal Mandal, along with his colleagues, conducted an in-depth analysis of the election results and voting patterns.
During the review meeting, there was a special discussion on the party’s performance and the reasons for the loss in each assembly constituency. The meeting was attended by the electoral team, and district and divisional level officials. It was decided in the meeting that after the review report is fully prepared, it will be submitted to the party’s National President, Lalu Prasad Yadav.
According to sources, the party’s expert committee, after analyzing the losses in each area, has specifically identified those “internal valleys” where the party’s hold remained weak and voter support could not be secured. The review also found that in some areas, there was a lack of campaigning and organizational preparation, which impacted the voting.
State President Mangli Lal Mandal said in the meeting that this report will not only identify the reasons for the loss but will also present strategic suggestions to strengthen the party in future elections. He also stated that the recommendations included in the report will play a crucial role in determining the party’s next strategy.
It was decided in the meeting that divisional level officials would be given the responsibility of preparing the report. Divisional officials will prepare a draft of the report by compiling data, reports, and electoral experiences from their respective areas. This will then be presented before the State President and, after finalization, will be sent to the National President.
The expert committee found during the review that there are several factors behind the loss. These include organizational weakness, incorrect candidate selection in some areas, and a lack of effective communication of the party’s message to voters. Additionally, the party also acknowledged that losses were incurred due to the strong strategies of opposition parties and the failure to grasp local issues at the right time.
The review report contains a detailed analysis of the party’s strengths and weaknesses. It includes electoral strategy, campaigning techniques, social and caste equations, voter behavior, and the status of local organization. Sources indicated that this report will be crucial for formulating future strategy and performing better in the next elections.
State President Mangli Lal Mandal clarified in the meeting that the purpose of the review report is not only to analyze the electoral loss but to use it as a guide for organizational reform and future preparations. He said that based on the review, necessary improvements will be made at the party level so that the party can stand strong in the next election.
It was also decided in the review meeting that the contributions of candidates, party workers, and regional leaders after the loss would also be evaluated. It will be ensured that no area or group faces injustice while implementing organizational reforms.
According to party sources, after sending this review report to the high command, the party will make strategic changes in preparation for the next election. This will take into account candidate selection, campaign strategy, organizational strengthening, and socio-political equations.
The recommendations of the review committee prominently include organizational reform, the use of new technologies in campaigning, focus on local issues, and ensuring transparency in the candidate selection process. The party’s objective is to strengthen the organization at every level and increase the party’s hold and influence in the next election.