Tej Pratap Yadav returns to Mahua as JJD candidate, faces former party RJD in high-stakes Bihar election battle

Vaishali (Bihar) [India], October 29 (ANI): The political spotlight is on the Mahua assembly constituency as the first phase of the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections approaches. Once a stronghold of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), the seat is now set for a dramatic contest between old allies-turned-rivals.
Tej Pratap Yadav, the elder son of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav and Rabri Devi, has returned to Mahua, but not under the RJD banner. After being expelled from both the party and his family earlier this year following a controversy over his personal life, Tej Pratap launched his own party, the Janshakti Janata Dal (JJD).
Tej Pratap, the elder son of RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and former Chief Minister Rabri Devi, has launched his own party, the Jan Jantantra Dal (JJD), after being expelled from both his family and the RJD earlier this year.
His expulsion followed a controversy over a Facebook post in which he claimed to be in a relationship, sparking a public fallout with his family. The incident revived discussions around his past marital issues, including his ongoing divorce case with Aishwarya Rai, granddaughter of former Bihar CM Daroga Rai.
Now, Tej Pratap is contesting from Mahua, the same seat he won in 2015 as an RJD candidate.
In 2015, Tej Pratap won the Mahua constituency as an RJD candidate, succeeding Janata Dal (United) JDU's Ravindra Ray. However, the seat was retained by the RJD in 2020 through Mukesh Kumar Raushan, who defeated the JDU's Ashma Praveen with an 8% margin.
Raushan, a sitting MLA and Mahagathbandhan's RJD face in Mahua, is once again in the action, this time locked in a direct, high-stakes face-off with his former party colleague and Lalu's son, Tej Pratap Yadav. The RJD's decision to field a candidate against Tej Pratap has added intrigue to the electoral battle.
Adding to the multi-cornered contest, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has fielded Sanjay Kumar Singh from the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas). At the same time, Indrajeet Pradhan will represent Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj. Mahua, part of the Hajipur Lok Sabha constituency, is expected to see an intense campaign from all major parties.
Tej Pratap filed his nomination on October 16, shortly after his new party announced its first batch of 22 candidates. As a former MLA from Mahua, he claimed to have done significant work for the constituency, which he believes will help him win the election.
Tej Pratap Yadav claimed credit for securing Mahua's recognition as a district, which he believed had improved the lives of the local population. He asserted that his efforts had created employment opportunities for youth in Mahua.
He also claimed to have played a role in securing sanctions for a medical college in the constituency, which will provide better healthcare facilities to residents.
Despite opposition from his own family, including his father, Lalu Prasad Yadav, expelling him from the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Tej Pratap Yadav remains confident about his chances in the election.
The 2025 Bihar Elections will see a contest between the National Democratic Alliance and the Mahagathbandhan.
The NDA comprises the Bharatiya Janata Party, Janata Dal (United), Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular), and Rashtriya Lok Morcha.
Mahagathbandhan, led by RJD, includes Congress party, the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) (CPI-ML) led by Deepankar Bhattacharya, the Communist Party of India (CPI), the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM), and Mukesh Sahani's VIP.
Additionally, Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj has staked claims to all 243 seats in the state.
Tejashwi has been named as the Mahagathbandhan Chief Ministerial face, while Mukesh Sahani, who heads the Vikasheel Insaan Pary (VIP), has been named as the Deputy CM candidate.
The assembly elections in Bihar are scheduled to be held on November 6 and 11, respectively, while the results will be declared on November 14. (ANI)