Lalu Yadav And The Ambedkar Photo Controversy: How BJP Turned The 'Dalit' Table In Bihar In 12 Months
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A viral photo of RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, appearing to disrespect a portrait of BR Ambedkar, has sparked outrage among Bihar's SC and ST communities
In politics, a week is a long time, and a year feels like a lifetime. It is no wonder that after last May's Lok Sabha election results, when the BJP lost 28 seats in Uttar Pradesh and nine in Bihar, the party was uneasy.
A year ago, it was grappling with how the slogan '400 paar' had been used against it by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, RJD, Samajwadi Party, and other opposition parties. They projected fears of reservation vanishing, which dearly cost the BJP.
The SP called it a triumph of 'PDA' (pichda-dalit-adivasi) and the RJD claimed it as Dalits rejecting the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). But things have changed in Bihar, where an assembly election is scheduled later this year.
A viral photo op has significantly shifted the political landscape. On RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav's birthday, a follower gifted him with a portrait of BR Ambedkar, which he seemingly did not acknowledge. The video shows the former chief minister of Bihar stretching his legs while the portrait is placed on the chair, appearing disrespectful.
Ambedkar is revered by many backward communities in Bihar, where Scheduled Castes (SC) make up 19.65 per cent and Scheduled Tribes (ST) constitute 1.68 per cent of the population, as per a 2022 caste-based survey. This incident has angered over 20 per cent of Bihar's population, presenting an opportunity for the BJP just ahead of the elections.
भारत को संविधान देने वाले बाबा साहेब डॉ. भीमराव अंबेडकर जी के अपमान से मन अत्यंत दुखित है।लालू यादव और राजद को न तो बिहार माफ करेगा और न ही देश!- माननीय केन्द्रीय कृषि मंत्री श्री @ChouhanShivraj #BabasahebAmbedkar #DalitVirodhiRJD pic.twitter.com/FPo0YhChV1 — BJP Bihar (@BJP4Bihar) June 16, 2025
The BJP deployed its top leaders to capitalise on the incident, including former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who carefully criticised Lalu Prasad without hurting Bihari pride. He stressed on the disrespect shown to Ambedkar, stating: 'I have one lament. What has happened to you, Lalu Yadav ji? All these talks of backwards were just for pretense? The man who gave us the Constitution, who gave us reservation, you are disrespecting that person — Dr BR Ambedkar! My mind is troubled. I am hurt. The disrespect shown to his photo exposes the real intent of Lalu Yadav and the RJD. The elephant has one set of teeth for eating and another just to show. Neither Bihar nor India will forgive Lalu ji or RJD ever."
ये 'चित्र' नहीं, आरजेडी का 'चरित्र' है। #ShameOnLaluFamily #DalitVirodhiRJD #BabasahebAmbedkar pic.twitter.com/iP9BNBYkGb — BJP Bihar (@BJP4Bihar) June 15, 2025
The Bihar BJP has been vigorously promoting this photo through social media, using hashtags like 'Dalit Virodhi RJD'. On Monday, it tweeted that five days had gone by without an apology from Lalu Yadav, attributing this to his 'pride".
Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, who is from the Dalit community, also criticised Lalu Prasad, saying: 'One came with a photo of Bhimrao Ambedkar and he wanted to gift him (Lalu Prasad). The body language of Lalu ji indicates a pride, which was reflected even in the way he was sitting. Now that this matter has become so big and you have disrespected Babasaheb, but his pride stops him from apologising."
Meghwal said disrespecting Ambedkar while claiming to support the unprivileged cannot go hand in hand. 'People of Bihar, in the coming days will teach Lalu ji a lesson," he added.
Union environment minister Bhupendra Yadav, who was in charge of the BJP's 2020 Bihar polls, demanded an apology. 'Bihar's citizen hasn't forgotten the tenure of Lalu ji. During Lalu ji's reign, the most amount of injustices were perpetrated against extremely backwards and Dalits…He is so submerged in his pride…that scene itself depicts his pride. That is why India's poor, extremely backwards, those who believe in social justice, know the way Lalu ji kept the photo near his leg…it hurt me too. I personally think he should apologise," he said.
Five days later, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav dismissed the issue saying: 'This is not even an issue. No one has insulted anyone…"
The Bihar SC commission, however, thinks otherwise. It has issued a notice to Lalu Yadav for allegedly insulting Ambedkar on his birth anniversary, giving him 15 days to respond. As the BJP goes all out in Bihar, it is remarkable to see how much can change in a year in Indian politics. An election slogan or a photo op can indeed be decisive.
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