Former Bihar minister Tej Pratap Yadav recently made a notable assertion regarding his younger brother, Tejashwi Yadav, the designated Chief Ministerial candidate for the upcoming Assembly elections by the INDIA bloc. Speaking to journalists on Saturday, October 25, 2025, Pratap stated that Tejashwi is still very much overshadowed by the towering political legacy of their father, Lalu Prasad Yadav.
Pratap, who now leads the Janshakti Janata Dal after his expulsion from the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), was responding to questions about enthusiastic supporters hailing his younger sibling as “Jan Nayak” (hero of the people). He clarified his stance, explaining, “The title of Jan Nayak is reserved for political stalwarts like Ram Manohar Lohia and Karpoori Thakur. Even Lalu Prasad ji truly embodies this epithet. However, Tejashwi’s current political standing largely stems from his association with Lalu Prasad. The day he genuinely carves out his own distinct identity and achievements, I will be the very first person to acknowledge him as a true Jan Nayak.”
Currently vying to reclaim the Mahua constituency, a seat where he first entered electoral politics a decade ago, Mr. Yadav firmly reiterated his position on future political alignments. He stated that after the elections, he has no intention of returning to his father’s party, nor does he plan to join any other political formation. Pratap conveyed unwavering confidence in his electoral prospects in Mahua, claiming that he faces “no real competition” there. He also took credit for the establishment of a medical college in the area and ambitiously promised the development of “an international stadium that would host a cricket match between India and Pakistan” for his constituents.
It’s worth noting that the RJD has fielded Mukesh Raushan, the incumbent MLA from Mahua and a close associate of Tejashwi Yadav, to contest from the same constituency.