Former Bihar minister Tej Pratap Yadav has made headlines yet again. Recently expelled from the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) by his father and party founder Lalu Prasad, Yadav has now announced his decision to contest the upcoming Bihar assembly elections as an Independent candidate. He will be vying for the Mahua seat in Vaishali district, a move that has already sent ripples through the political landscape of Bihar.
Currently, Yadav serves as the MLA from the Hasanpur seat in Samastipur district. But this time, he’s setting his sights on a new battleground. At a press meeting held at his residence in Patna, he confidently stated, “Yes, this time, I will contest the elections from Mahua assembly seat as an Independent candidate.” He added with a hint of defiance, “My opponents must have started to feel an itch.”
Yadav isn’t short on confidence. He claims to have strong grassroots support, thanks to his social media initiative, ‘Team Tej Pratap Yadav.’ “I have people’s support… a large number of people are now connected with my platform,” he said. His digital outreach seems to be a key strategy as he steps into the fray without the backing of his former party.
The former minister didn’t stop there. He took a sharp dig at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, predicting a change in leadership after the polls. “I am confident that ‘chacha’ (Nitish) will not become the CM… those who would form the government, if they talk about youths, employment, education, and health, Tej Pratap Yadav will stand with them,” he asserted.
The road to this candidacy hasn’t been smooth. Yadav was expelled from the RJD on May 25 after a series of controversies, including a social media post where he confessed to being in a relationship with a woman named Anushka. He later deleted the post, claiming his account was hacked. But the damage was done. Lalu Prasad cited “irresponsible behaviour” as the reason for his expulsion and publicly disowned him.
In the aftermath, Yadav alleged a conspiracy to create division between him and his younger brother, Tejashwi Yadav, who now leads the RJD. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), he referenced ‘Jaichand,’ a historical metaphor for betrayal, to describe those he believes are orchestrating the rift. The brothers, both sons of Lalu Prasad and former Chief Minister Rabri Devi, have been prominent figures in Bihar politics. Their sibling dynamic, now strained, adds another layer of drama to the upcoming elections.
Yadav made his political debut in the 2015 Bihar assembly polls and has since served two terms as an MLA, with brief stints in the state cabinet. His move to go solo marks a significant shift in his career. Whether he can translate his bold claims into electoral success remains to be seen.
The Bihar assembly elections are shaping up to be a highly contested affair, with Tej Pratap Yadav’s Independent bid adding an unexpected twist. His campaign will be one to watch as the political drama unfolds.