JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

HTML

<select id="ddl_BankRequestType">
    <option>-- Request Type ---</option>
    <option value="val1">Item1</option>
    <option value="val2">Item2</option>
</select>

JavaScript

$(function (){
    $('#ddl_BankRequestType').change(function () {
     var selectedItem = $(this).find(":selected").text();
        
        console.log(selectedItem)
     if (selectedItem === 'Item1') {
         alert('item1');
     } else if (selectedItem === 'Item2') {
         alert('item2');
     }
});
    
    $('#ddl_BankRequestType > option:eq(2)').attr('selected', true).change();
    
   
});