The Rashtriya Janata Dal, another breakaway faction of the Janata Dal, was formed in 1997 and is headed by Laloo Prasad Yadav. It has a strong base in Bihar, one of India`s poorest states. The split in the ruling Janata Dal in Bihar took place after the fodder scam was unearthed. Party heavyweights like Sharad Yadav forced Laloo Prasad Yadav to step down. Laloo did eventually step down and installed his wife Rabri Devi instead but the parent party was to disintegrate.

The party performed poorly in the 1999 general elections and Laloo himself received a drubbing at the hands of Sharad Yadav in the Madhepura seat.

This time around, it remains to be seen if the party`s support base of lower-caste Hindus and Muslims will back it in these general elections and Bihar state legislature which are due early next year.