The ongoing election has taken a deeply personal turn for the family of former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, as his two sons, Tejashwi and Tej Pratap Yadav, face off in their own political contests from opposing sides. Both brothers are currently trailing in their constituencies in Bihar, with Tejashwi lagging in Raghopur and Tej Pratap in Mahua.
Tejashwi Yadav is behind by a mere 343 votes in Raghopur, while his elder sibling, Tej Pratap, finds himself significantly behind in Mahua. Tej Pratap, who was expelled from the Rashtriya Janata Dal by their father on May 25 due to what was described as “irresponsible behavior,” is contesting under a new banner, the Janshakti Janata Dal (JJD), which has formed an alliance with five smaller parties for the elections.
The electoral landscape in Mahua has painted a stark picture: as the seventh round of counting progresses, LJP (Ram Vilas) candidate Sanjay Kumar Singh is leading with 22,703 votes, while Tej Pratap is trailing severely with only 4,941 votes and RJD’s Mukesh Roshan at 15,919 votes. This represents a significant decline for Tej Pratap compared to the previous elections, where he secured a victory in Hasanpur by a margin of over 20,000 votes.
Tej Pratap’s new political identity and his break from the family party seem to be creating challenges, contrasting with Tejashwi, who is continuing to represent the opposition alliance. Despite his pressing circumstances, Tej Pratap remains optimistic about his prospects, indicating in recent statements that he doesn’t trust polling projections and is prioritizing his campaign efforts over celebration.
This family feud and the divergent political paths of the Yadav brothers have captured public attention, serving as a compelling narrative amid the evolving political landscape in Bihar. As the election progresses, it remains to be seen how this rivalry will shape their futures in politics.