Ritu Jaiswal, denied RJD ticket for Parihar, runs as independent after losing close races in 2020 and 2024.

Ritu Jaiswal, chief of the Rashtriya Janata Dal’s women’s wing in Bihar, will run as an independent candidate for the Parihar assembly seat after being denied the party ticket, which was given to Smita, the daughter-in-law of former RJD leader Ram Chandra Purve. Jaiswal, who lost the 2020 seat by fewer than 2,000 votes and the 2024 Lok Sabha race by under 30,000 votes, said accepting another constituency would violate her conscience. She rejected a proposed move to another seat and plans to file her nomination soon. While the RJD has not formally confirmed candidates, images of Smita receiving the party symbol from Tejashwi Yadav have circulated online, confirming the selection. Jaiswal’s decision marks a notable internal challenge within the party ahead of the Bihar assembly elections.