NEET Aspirant’s Death Sparks Political Storm in Bihar

RJD targets Nitish government over women’s safety; JDU calls charges political

January 18, 2026: The alleged rape and subsequent death of a NEET aspirant at a girls’ hostel in Patna has triggered widespread outrage across Bihar, reigniting a fierce political clash between the ruling NDA and the opposition RJD. The incident has once again pushed issues of women’s safety and the state’s law-and-order situation into sharp focus, drawing strong reactions from political leaders and civil society alike.

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav launched a blistering attack on the Nitish Kumar-led government, accusing it of failing to protect women and allowing criminals to act without fear. Through social media posts, he alleged that the administration had become insensitive and morally hollow, citing recent crimes including the assault and death of the NEET aspirant, the killing of a four-year-old girl in Khagaria, and the gang rape and murder of a widow in Madhepura. Yadav claimed these incidents showed a collapse of governance and accused the police of lathi-charging protesters who were demanding justice.

Echoing the criticism, RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav’s daughter Rohini Acharya said Bihar had been shamed once again and questioned whether justice would be delivered to the victim. Hitting back, JDU spokesperson Abhishek Jha described the incident as tragic and said investigations were underway, arrests had been made, and a second post-mortem opinion was being sought from AIIMS Patna. He accused the RJD of politicising the tragedy and asserted that the Nitish Kumar government followed a zero-tolerance policy towards crime.