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Tej Pratap said Tejashwi’s influence was because of their father Lalu Prasad Yadav
Tej Pratap’s insistence is that Tejashwi is still operating in the ‘shadow’ of their father, Lalu Prasad Yadav. File pic/PTI
The long-running political rivalry between Rashtriya Janata Dal scions Tej Pratap Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav has once again flared up, with the former publicly discrediting his younger brother’s projection as a “Jan Nayak” (people’s hero) in the run-up to the Bihar assembly elections. Tej Pratap Yadav, contesting from the Mahua assembly constituency as the chief of his newly formed Janshakti Janata Dal (JJD), sharply criticised the pervasive use of the slogan “Bihar Ka Nayak” on hoardings featuring his younger sibling.
In a direct jibe at the RJD’s heir apparent, Tej Pratap stated, “Tejashwi cannot be a ‘jan nayak’ because his power and influence do not come from the public; they come because of our father [Lalu Prasad Yadav]. The day he truly becomes a jan nayak, we will be the first to call him one.” This statement cuts to the core of the family’s succession battle, asserting that Tejashwi’s political standing is inherited rather than earned through independent public mandate or struggle. Tej Pratap further emphasised that the honorific “Jan Nayak” is reserved for political stalwarts like Karpoori Thakur and Ram Manohar Lohia, suggesting Tejashwi is yet to reach that stature.
This public confrontation underscores the deep cracks within the powerful Yadav family and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) just as the state heads to the polls. Tej Pratap, who was expelled from the RJD earlier this year, is challenging his former party by contesting from Mahua, a seat he won in 2015. The RJD has fielded Mukesh Kumar Raushan, the MLA, against him, turning the Mahua contest into a high-stakes, direct family battle.
Tejashwi Yadav, who is the declared chief ministerial candidate of the Mahagathbandhan and is contesting from Raghopur, has been at the forefront of the RJD’s campaign, but observers say his elder brother’s persistent critique risks fracturing the traditional RJD vote base. Tej Pratap’s insistence that Tejashwi is still operating in the “shadow” of their father, Lalu Prasad Yadav, highlights his belief that political clout must be forged through one’s own merit and not merely dynastic privilege. The ongoing political drama ensures that the familial rivalry remains a dominant and highly sensationalised narrative of the Bihar elections.
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d…Read More
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d… Read More
October 25, 2025, 19:54 IST
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