'Loot, kidnapping, murder...': BJP roasts RJD, reminds Bihar of Lalu era with ‘Lal-TEN’ list

Lalu Prasad Yadav has served as the chief minister of Bihar twice — from 1990 to 1995 and 1995 to 1997.

Ahead of the upcoming elections in Bihar, the BJP has taken a jibe at the RJD poll symbol “lantern”.

The post featured a picture of former CM Lalu Prasad along with a list of crimes associated with the infamous RJD-era "jungle raj", including kidnapping, murder, corruption, loot, ransom, extortion, dacoity, massacre, violence and snatching.

-TEN #BhulegaNahiBiharpic.twitter.com/WIKRkcAbR5

BJP Bihar (@BJP4Bihar) June 12, 2025

Yadav, who is the RJD presdient, has  served as the chief minister of Bihar twice — from 1990 to 1995 and 1995 to 1997. He was also the Minister of Railways in the first term of the United Progressive Alliance government under Manmohan Singh.

The Jungle Raj narrative, which had started around the criminal acts of ruling politicians, was solidified with the incrimination of Lalu Prasad in corruption cases. Journalist Sankarshan Thakur’s book, "The Making of Laloo Yadav: The Unmaking of Bihar" has described the Lalu regime.

“What do we say of Bihar? What do we say of a state itself so punched and blown it is not even supposed to feel pain? What do we say of a state so inured to wretchedness it refuses now to convey it or complain? … Yeh Bihar hai. Yahan sub kuch chalta hai," Thakut wrote in his book.

The decade-and-a-half-long tenure of the RJD was reportedly marked with an alarming rise in crime -- often linked to Lalu's two notorious brother-in-laws Sadhu Yadav and Subhash Yadav.

The Opposition had then accused the Lalu-Rabri dispensation of allowing criminals a free run and have often pointed to the rampant instances of kidnapping and extortion. The charges sparked massive uproar in Bihar and the RJD was voted out of power in 2005 and has since failed to win a majority on its own.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah recently slammed the former Bihar Chief Minister, calling his 1990-2005 tenure an era of "Jungle Raj" and accused his government of corruption and misgovernance, particularly citing the fodder scam.

"What did Lalu Yadav's government do in Bihar from 1990 to 2005? Lalu Yadav's government defamed Bihar in the country and the world by doing a fodder scam in the entire state. His government will always be known as 'Jungle Raj' in the history of Bihar," the Home Minister said.

Shah had also contrasted the previous administration with the governance of Nitish Kumar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "During Nitish Kumar's tenure, roads, electricity, and tap water have reached every village. Today, PM Modi has worked to take Bihar's poor forward by giving them houses, toilets, water, medicines, and ration," he said.

The 2025 Bihar assembly election for all 243 constituencies is expected to be held on October or November.