'Death over returning to RJD': Tej Pratap Yadav says not hungry for power; distances from Lalu, Tejashwi ahead of Bihar polls

Patna, October 25, 2025 – In a dramatic turn of events ahead of the Bihar Assembly Elections, Tej Pratap Yadav, the elder son of former Bihar Chief Ministers Lalu Prasad Yadav and Rabri Devi, has declared that he would "choose death over returning to the RJD" (Rashtriya Janata Dal). The former minister, who was expelled from the RJD by his father a few months ago, is now focusing on his own political outfit, the Janshakti Janta Dal (JJD).

Yadav, who is contesting the assembly poll from Mahua, emphasized that he is not driven by a hunger for power but by a desire to serve the people. "The biggest thing for me is to work for the people," he stated in an interview. This declaration marks a significant distancing from his father, Lalu Prasad Yadav, and younger brother, Tejashwi Yadav, who is the INDIA bloc's chief ministerial candidate. Tej Pratap seemed unimpressed with Tejashwi being named the INDIA bloc's chief ministerial candidate.

Tej Pratap's political journey has been fraught with challenges. Once seen as the heir apparent, he has been overshadowed by his younger brother, Tejashwi. After being expelled from the RJD earlier this year for 'deviation from the family's moral values,' he floated the Janshakti Janta Dal. On September 26, 2025, Tej Pratap proclaimed himself the national president of JJD. "We are fully dedicated and committed to the comprehensive development of Bihar. Our goal is to bring about complete transformation and establish a new order,” he said.

The JJD has already released its first list of 21 candidates for the upcoming Bihar Legislative Assembly elections, which are scheduled to be held in two phases on November 6 and 11. Tej Pratap himself is set to contest from Mahua, a seat he first won in 2015 during his electoral debut on an RJD ticket. He had earlier confirmed his return to Mahua after being expelled from the RJD.

Despite his separation from the RJD, Tej Pratap has seemingly retained his disapproval of the ruling NDA (National Democratic Alliance). "People are not going to be deceived by the nefarious designs of the BJP-RSS combine anymore," he said.

Tej Pratap's decision to contest independently has added another layer of complexity to the already intricate political landscape of Bihar. While Tejashwi Yadav enjoys the advantage of his party's established base and family support, Tej Pratap faces an uphill battle to prove his mettle and connect with the voters on his own. While voters at Gandhi Chowk and Jawahar Chowk in the constituency seemed in favor of Tej Pratap, they expressed pity for him.

Tej Pratap's campaign includes promises of development for his constituency. He boasts of bringing a medical college and hospital to Mahua and has pledged to provide an engineering college if elected. He also signaled a symbolic break from the RJD by swapping his signature green Gandhi cap, a symbol of his former party, for a yellow one.

The Bihar Assembly elections in 2025 are shaping up to be a keenly contested affair, with Tej Pratap Yadav's independent bid adding an element of unpredictability. His decision to prioritize his principles and self-respect over power will be closely watched as the state heads to the polls.