Lalu Prasad Alleges Nitish Kumar’s Involvement in Security Cover Downgrade

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad on Wednesday alleged that the recent downgrading of his security cover was orchestrated at the bidding of his arch-rival Nitish Kumar, the Janata Dal (United) president. The Bihar government, now led by Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), had revised the security status of several political figures earlier this week.

The order stripped Mr. Prasad and his wife, former Chief Minister Rabri Devi, of their Z-plus security cover—the highest level of protection in the country, which typically includes a personal security detail of around 55 armed personnel, often with National Security Guard (NSG) commandos. The exact new classification assigned to them remains undisclosed.

Responding tersely to journalists in Patna, Mr. Prasad said, “Yes, the security cover has been downgraded. It is all being done at the behest of Nitish Kumar.” He offered no further elaboration or evidence to substantiate his claim.

The accusation adds a fresh twist to the complex political dynamics of Bihar. Mr. Prasad and Mr. Kumar have been bitter rivals for decades, yet they have joined hands twice in the past when Mr. Kumar briefly fell out with the BJP. On both occasions, Mr. Prasad’s son Tejashwi Yadav served as Deputy Chief Minister. The history of their relationship is a saga of mutual distrust punctuated by tactical alliances. Mr. Prasad, a stalwart of Mandal politics, rose to prominence in the 1990s as a champion of backward caste rights, while Mr. Kumar built a reputation as a development-focused administrator. Their coming together in government in 2015 and again in 2022 was seen as a marriage of convenience, which collapsed both times amid deep-seated suspicions.

Most recently, Mr. Kumar resigned as Chief Minister last month and moved to the Rajya Sabha, facilitating the formation of the first full-fledged BJP government in the state under Samrat Choudhary. Mr. Kumar’s own son, Nishant Kumar, was subsequently inducted into the Choudhary cabinet, confirming the JD(U)’s continued partnership with the BJP.

The Z-plus security cover is reserved for individuals facing the highest threat perception. A downgrade typically follows a review by security agencies, but such decisions can become politically sensitive, especially when they involve prominent opposition figures. While the state government has not publicly explained the rationale, the RJD has termed the move “politically motivated” and hinted at raising the issue in the legislative assembly.

Repeated attempts to contact representatives of Nitish Kumar and the Chief Minister’s office for a response were unsuccessful at the time of reporting. Political observers note that security downgrades for VIPs often invite controversy, with allegations of vendetta or favouritism surfacing regardless of the official threat assessment. The current episode underscores the enduring animosity between two of Bihar’s most influential political families, and it may well escalate into a broader confrontation between the ruling coalition and the opposition. For now, the downgrade order stands, and Mr. Prasad’s remarks have ensured that the issue will remain in the political spotlight.