10 months ago
Bihar Elections: Tej Pratap Challenges Tejashwi in Yadav Stronghold
Two brothers, Tej Pratap and Tejashwi, who are sons of a famous politician named Lalu Yadav, are competing against each other in an election in Bihar, India.
Tej Pratap's new party is trying to get votes in areas where his brother Tejashwi is expected to do well, like a town called Mahua.
Some people worry that if these brothers fight, the votes from their family's supporters, especially those who are from the Yadav community, might get split.
This could help other political parties win.
Tejashwi is telling people to vote for him to get jobs.
Tej Pratap, however, is being critical of Tejashwi, calling him inexperienced.
Even though they are fighting, some voters believe that any vote for either brother ultimately supports their father, Lalu Yadav.
A medical college that Tej Pratap started is also making some people want to vote for him.
Tej Pratap Yadav's party is campaigning in his brother Tejashwi Yadav's constituency, potentially splitting the Yadav vote in Bihar.
Tejashwi Yadav is focusing his campaign on job creation, urging voters to support the RJD candidate in Mahua.
Tej Pratap has openly criticized Tejashwi, calling him inexperienced, while voters acknowledge the potential for a divided Yadav vote.
The competition between the brothers is seen as a challenge to the RJD's stronghold in 'Yadav land'.
Voters are divided, with some loyal to Tej Pratap due to his past initiatives like the medical college, while others fear the impact of the internal feud on election results.
- Who
- Tej Pratap Yadav (Janshakti Janta Dal) and Tejashwi Yadav (Rashtriya Janata Dal), sons of Lalu Prasad Yadav.
- What
- Tej Pratap Yadav is challenging his brother Tejashwi Yadav's influence and potential vote share in Bihar's Yadav-dominated constituencies, creating an internal political battle within the RJD family.
- Where
- Primarily in the Bihar constituencies of Raghopur and Mahua (Vaishali).
- When
- As campaigning for the first phase of Bihar polls enters its final stages, with specific mention of Tej Pratap campaigning on Monday (November 3, 2025).
- Why
- Tej Pratap appears to be asserting his political presence and challenging his younger brother's dominance, potentially due to the legacy of their father, Lalu Yadav, and dissatisfaction with Tejashwi's campaign strategy.
Tej Pratap's Challenge
Tejashwi's Campaign Focus
Constituency Competition
Tej Pratap's Challenge
Tej Pratap Yadav's Janshakti Janta Dal is actively campaigning in his brother Tejashwi Yadav's constituency of Raghopur and threatening Tejashwi's Mahua seat, potentially splitting the crucial Yadav vote.
Tejashwi's Campaign Focus
Tejashwi Yadav is campaigning for the RJD candidate Mukesh Ranjan in Mahua, focusing his message on job creation and strengthening his hand, without directly mentioning his brother's challenge.
Political Strategy and Support
Tej Pratap's Challenge
Tej Pratap openly criticizes Tejashwi, calling him a novice and suggesting voters will be 'bluffed' after elections. He is also drawing support in Raghopur, creating a potential split in the Yadav vote.
Tejashwi's Campaign Focus
Tejashwi is urging voters to strengthen his hand for job creation, implying that voting for the RJD candidate indirectly supports him and the party's agenda.
Voter Sentiment and Legacy
Tej Pratap's Challenge
Some voters, like Rameshwar Rai, openly state they will vote for 'Lalu's son, the elder one (Tej)', indicating a personal loyalty to Tej Pratap. The medical college initiated by Tej Pratap is also a talking point.
Tejashwi's Campaign Focus
Other voters, like businessman Arun Kumar, express concern that the brotherly feud could benefit opposition parties like LJP by splitting the dominant Yadav vote. The general sentiment is that any vote for either son ultimately goes to Lalu Yadav.
Key facts
- Election Phase
- First phase of polling in Bihar
- Key Constituencies
- Raghopur (Tejashwi's seat), Mahua (Vaishali)
- Key Political Parties
- Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Janshakti Janta Dal, Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), Janata Dal United (JDU)
- Main Contenders
- Tej Pratap Yadav (JSD), Tejashwi Yadav (RJD)
- Key Issues Mentioned
- Job creation, Yadav vote consolidation, family political legacy
- Date of Report
- November 4, 2025
Quotes
Shehzad Poonawalla
BJP spokesperson and former Congress leader
“Today, I read Shashi Tharoor’s insightful piece, in which he explains in great detail how Indian politics has increasingly become like a family business. He begins his article by referring to Congress’s first family,…”
financialexpress.com
“This is why Naamdars of Congress hate Kaamdar Chaiwala PM Modi. Wonder what repercussions will follow against Dr Tharoor for speaking so candidly.”
financialexpress.com
Tej Pratap Yadav
Elder son of Lalu-Rabdi
“Agar naukri chahiye to Tejashwi ka hath mazboot kijiye. Mukesh ko vijay mala pehna de na”
news18.com
“Chunav ke baad usko jhunjhuna pakda denge”
news18.com
Shashi Tharoor
Congress MP
“For decades, one family has towered over Indian politics. The influence of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty – including independent India’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, prime ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, and current opposition leader Rahul Gandhi and MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra – is bound up with the history of India’s struggle for freedom. But it has also cemented the idea that political leadership can be a birthright. This idea has penetrated Indian politics across every party, in every region, and at every level,”
financialexpress.com
“Dynastic politics pose a grave threat to Indian democracy. When political power is determined by lineage, rather than ability, commitment, or grassroots engagement, the quality of governance suffers. Drawing from a smaller talent pool is never advantageous, but it is especially problematic when candidates’ main qualification is their surname.”
financialexpress.com
Rameshwar Rai
Worker at a tea shop in Mahua and Lalu Yadav supporter
“Lalu ke bete ko vote denge”
news18.com
“Bada beta ko — Tej ko”
news18.com
Giriraj Singh
Union Minister
“Perhaps his words will reach Kharge, so that he too may free himself from servitude and stand against dynastic rule,”
financialexpress.com
Arun Kumar
businessman and self-confessed fan of the late LJP founder Ram Vilas Paswan
“Dono bhai lad rahe hain. Mahua RJD ka gadh hai kyunki ye yadav bahulya chetra hai. Per agar Yadav bant jayega to Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) ke Santosh Singh ka fayda ho sakta hai”
news18.com
Dr Pramod Bhagat
medical practitioner
“Tej Pratap is also Lalu’s son like Tejashwi, but he also brought a medical college to Mahua when he was a health minister. That is a big deal”
news18.com
Shiv Chandar Rai
farmer
“This fight will be sorted when the elections are over. Vote Tej ko do ya Tejaswi ko…Lalu ji ko hi jayega”
news18.com
Sources
‘First family is very vengeful’: BJP leader cautions Tharoor, says ‘you know what happened to me’
How Congress Leaders Reacted To Shashi Tharoor's 'Nepotism Trumps Meritocracy' Remark
Bihar Sees Tejashwi Vs Tej Pratap: Lalu’s Which Son Will Shine Brighter In Yadav Land?
Shashi Tharoor says dynastic politics 'grave threat' to democracy: Here's how Cong, BJP reacted to Kerala MP's remarks
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