Tej Pratap Yadav Stares at Massive Defeat in Mahua as Bihar Verdict Turns Against RJD

As Bihar’s 2025 Assembly Election results paint a decisive political shift, Tej Pratap Yadav, the elder son of Lalu Prasad Yadav, now stands on the brink of one of the most significant defeats of his political career. Early trends from the Mahua Assembly constituency show him trailing by nearly 44,000 votes, signalling a dramatic erosion of the Yadav scion’s vote base and the weakening influence of dynastic politics in the state.

The result comes even as the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)—Tej Pratap’s former party and political alma mater—faces a massive collapse across Bihar, with only a few candidates managing to hold their ground against the National Democratic Alliance’s sweeping wave.

A Fall from Past Glory: From Big Mandates to Steep Decline

Tej Pratap, who once leveraged the Yadav family legacy to secure comfortable victories, now finds himself trailing not only behind LJP (Ram Vilas) candidate Sanjay Kumar Singh, who is leading by 44,000 votes, but also behind RJD candidate Mukesh Kumar Raushan, who is ahead of him by over 6,000 votes.

His defeats contrast sharply with earlier successes:

After his suspension from the RJD and forming the Janshakti Janta Dal (JJD), Tej Pratap projected himself as an independent leader breaking free from “dynastic shadows.” Last month, he publicly criticised his brother Tejashwi as “still a child in Lalu’s shadow,” claiming he had earned the people’s trust.
Today’s numbers sharply contradict that assertion.

On-Ground Mood: Disappointment Among Loyalists

Eyewitnesses at Mahua counting centre described a sombre atmosphere among Tej Pratap supporters, with many quietly acknowledging that the leader’s unpredictable behaviour and frequent public controversies may have alienated neutral voters.

Booth-level trends showed:

• Low crossover votes from RJD to Tej Pratap
• Youth and women voters shifting towards LJP (RV)
• Strong consolidation of anti-RJD votes

Local party workers said his campaign lacked organisational backing, deep cadre presence, and emotional resonance—factors that had earlier helped him ride on the RJD’s massive grassroots machinery.

A Personality Overshadowed by Controversy

Tej Pratap’s career has seen rapid political ascent, including stints as:

• Health Minister
• Environment & Forest Minister
• Backward Class Welfare Minister

But much of his public image has been shaped by:

• Frequent disputes with political colleagues
• Highly publicised marital issues
• Controversial statements and unusual public appearances

His flamboyant theatrics—arriving as Lord Shiva, Krishna or Arjun at events—often overshadowed governance narratives, making him more of a headline figure than a policy influencer.

Dynasty vs. Merit: A Larger Message for Bihar Politics

Tej Pratap’s steep fall carries broader political significance:

1. Growing Rejection of Dynastic Politics

Bihar voters have repeatedly shown that lineage alone cannot guarantee sustained mandates.

2. LJP (RV)'s Rising Appeal

Chirag Paswan’s party, capitalising on youth outreach and anti-RJD sentiment, has made significant inroads.

3. Fragmented Opposition Votes

With Tej Pratap floating a new party and contesting separately, the non-NDA vote splintered in Mahua.

What Lies Ahead for Tej Pratap Yadav?

For a leader who vowed never to return to the RJD “till his last breath,” the current scenario poses a difficult path forward. Analysts believe he faces a long rebuilding process if he intends to remain politically relevant:

• He must cultivate an independent voter base
• Strengthen his party’s grassroots structure
• Move beyond personality-driven politics
• Prioritise policy-based engagement
• Distance himself from theatrics that dilute credibility

As one senior political observer told TheTrendingPeople.com:
“Legacy opens the door, but only performance keeps it from closing.”

Final Thoughts from TheTrendingPeople.com

Tej Pratap Yadav’s near-certain defeat in Mahua is more than a personal setback—it reflects a broader shift in Bihar’s political consciousness. The electorate is signalling that credibility, consistency, and grounded work matter far more than surname or spectacle. Whether Tej Pratap reinvents himself or fades into the periphery will depend solely on what he does next.