Patna: The BJP has criticised Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav after photos of him celebrating Halloween with his grandchildren surfaced online, reminding voters of his earlier comments describing the Kumbh Mela as “meaningless.”

The controversy began after Yadav’s daughter, Rohini Acharya, shared images on social media on Friday, showing her children dressed in Halloween costumes, including a Grim Reaper outfit, posing with their grandfather. “Happy Halloween to everyone,” she wrote in her post.

Reacting to the visuals, the BJP Kisan Morcha shared a split video juxtaposing Yadav’s previous remarks on Kumbh with the Halloween celebration, accusing the RJD veteran of hypocrisy. “Don’t forget, people of Bihar, this is the same Lalu Yadav who called the grand Kumbh of faith and spirituality useless and is celebrating the British festival Halloween. Whoever attacks faith, the people of Bihar will not vote for him,” the BJP’s farmers’ wing said in a post on X.

Halloween, which has Celtic origins, is traditionally marked with spooky decorations, costumes, parties, and trick-or-treating. The BJP argued that while Yadav appeared comfortable celebrating a Western festival, he had shown “disrespect” towards Hindu religious traditions. “Those who attack faith won’t get votes,” the party added.

Elections in Bihar are just days away, with two-phase voting for the state assembly scheduled for November 6 and 11.

Earlier this year, Yadav had drawn sharp criticism for his comments on the Maha Kumbh festival. “Kumbh ka koi matlab hai? Faltu hai Kumbh (Does Kumbh have any meaning? It’s useless),” he had said in February when asked about the massive crowds at the religious gathering in Prayagraj.

At the time, the BJP condemned the statement, saying it reflected the RJD’s mindset towards Hindus. “The RJD has always insulted the sentiments of Hindus,” Bihar BJP spokesperson Manoj Sharma had said.