Tejashwi Yadav Seals 3rd Win, Tej Pratap's Comeback Bid Falters in Mahua

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In the Bihar assembly election 2025, Tejashwi Yadav, the declared heir of RJD patriarch Lalu Yadav, is poised to retain the Raghopur seat with a third consecutive win. Meanwhile, his estranged elder son Tej Pratap Yadav's bid to reclaim the Mahua constituency, which he won in 2015, has hit a roadblock. Tej Pratap, who contested as the leader of his new party Janshakti Janata Dal (JJD), is trailing behind LJP(RV)'s Sanjay Kumar Singh and RJD's Mukesh Kumar Raushan. Tej Pratap's return to politics comes after being expelled from the RJD and the family due to his public declaration of a romantic relationship. He had formed JJD to contest the polls, while RJD fielded a candidate against him in Mahua. The constituency witnessed a multi-cornered contest among Tej Pratap, Mukesh Raushan, and Sanjay Kumar Singh. Tej Pratap's comeback bid was seen as a high-stakes attempt to redeem himself after being ousted from the party and the family. He had expressed confidence that Nitish Kumar would not retain the Chief Minister post, similar to the Mahagathbandhan's stance. However, it seems that his experience in the constituency may not be enough to secure his win. Mukesh Raushan, the RJD candidate, is a staunch loyalist of Tejashwi Yadav and has been a key figure in the party. He had previously won the Mahua seat in 2020 and was reportedly upset when Tej Pratap announced his return to the constituency. Another rival, Ashma Parveen, a 50-year-old doctor and close friend of Misa Bharti, is contesting as an independent candidate. The results show that Tej Pratap's initial charge has waned, and he is now trailing behind his opponents. The outcome of the Mahua constituency will be a crucial indicator of Tej Pratap's prospects in the Bihar assembly election 2025.