Patna: A new poster campaign in Bihar’s capital, Patna, calling for the Bharat Ratna for Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, has ignited both support and criticism. Yadav, a figure both revered and criticized, is currently out on bail while serving sentences in multiple fodder scam cases, disqualifying him from contesting in elections due to his convictions.

The poster, which appeared near the RJD’s office on Birchand Patel Marg, boldly declared, “Leader of social justice and the voice of Bihar Lalu Prasad be conferred with Bharat Ratna,” along with a photo of the former chief minister, labeled as a "Messiah" and "Our God." The poster was signed by a representative of the RJD's SC/ST cell, signaling support from within the party for the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award, to be awarded to Yadav.

The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), however, reacted sharply, dismissing the demand as inappropriate given Yadav’s criminal record. JD(U) national spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan Prasad responded sarcastically, stating, “I would have treated it as a joke had we been close to the festival of Holi. But since the demand has been made by the RJD in earnest, I would urge them not to insult the Bharat Ratna.” Further expressing NDA’s disapproval, JD(U) MLC Neeraj Kumar remarked, “Why should Lalu ji get a Bharat Ratna? The high standards of corruption, casteism, dynasty politics, and criminal patronage set by him would make any Ratna lose its sheen out of shame.”

RJD leaders, however, portrayed Yadav as a hero of the marginalized. RJD spokesperson Ejaz Ahmed said, “Talk to any rickshaw puller or laborer in Bihar. He will tell you that it was Lalu ji who gave them a voice. All OBC and Dalit leaders of Bihar, be they from any party, owe their political fortunes to the social revolution brought in by our leader.”

The political dynamics in Bihar added another layer to this debate. Just a month earlier, posters had appeared outside the JD(U) office advocating for Bharat Ratna to be awarded to Nitish Kumar, Bihar’s longest-serving Chief Minister. Additionally, Union Minister Chirag Paswan, another NDA leader, recently demanded the Bharat Ratna for his late father, Ram Vilas Paswan, a prominent Dalit leader.

Adding to the controversy, former state BJP president and Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary quipped, “In recognition of his financial wrongdoings, Lalu Prasad be given the title of Loot Ratna.”

Meanwhile, the Congress, a longstanding ally of the RJD, issued a carefully measured response. State Congress media in-charge Rajesh Rathore remarked, “Every party has such feelings about its leader. There is nothing unusual about it. Moreover, we cannot deny the fact that among all leaders in Bihar, Lalu has the largest support base.”

This recent poster campaign has not only sparked a lively debate on Yadav’s legacy but also highlighted the ongoing tussle for political recognition and honors among Bihar's prominent leaders, setting the stage for further political rivalry in the state.