New Delhi, 22 March (H.S.):

Senior BJP leader KC Tyagi formally joined the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) on Sunday, 22 March 2026, weeks after quitting the Janata Dal (United) (JD‑U). The move brings back a prominent OBC‑centric voice into the RLD fold, as Union Minister and RLD president Jayant Chaudhary welcomed Tyagi at a party event in New Delhi and formally inducted him into the organisation.

Tyagi, who entered politics through the Samata Party in 2003 before moving to JD‑U at its formation, held several key posts in the Bihar‑based outfit, including national spokesperson, chief general secretary and political adviser. Many observers had linked his departure from JD‑U to the party’s shifting equations, especially after Chief Minister Nitish Kumar resigned from the post and shifted back to the Rajya Sabha, which altered the internal dynamics in the JD‑U hierarchy. Tyagi, however, has not publicly cited any specific reason for leaving JD‑U.

Even after switching sides, Tyagi refrained from making any negative remarks about his former party. He stressed that he continues to hold JD‑U chief Nitish Kumar in high regard, insisting that his respect for Kumar remains unchanged. He said the RLD and JD‑U share ideological similarities, as both draw inspiration from the legacy of former leaders such as Chaudhary Charan Singh, Karpoori Thakur and Ram Manohar Lohia and consider them guiding political ideals.

The induction of Tyagi is seen as a strategic step by the RLD to strengthen its position among non‑Yadav backward classes in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, especially as national and state‑level alliances remain fluid.

Analysts suggest that his presence could help the RLD project a broader OBC‑centric image beyond its core Yadav base, while also giving the party a seasoned campaigner with deep experience in coalition politics and caste‑based mobilisation.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar