Hajipur: Tej Pratap Yadav, despite being expelled from both the RJD and his family by Lalu Prasad Yadav, remains a strong contender in the Mahua assembly constituency. Voters across villages in Mahua are rallying around him, citing his past contributions to local development.
“Tej Pratap Yadav may have been expelled, but he is still Lalu Prasad Yadav’s son, and we will vote for him,” says Satyanarayan Rai of Kadilpur. “He built a medical college here. Now we won’t have to go to Patna or Delhi for treatment, and many people got jobs because of it. We want Tejashwi to become CM and Tej Pratap to win from Mahua.”
Voting in Mahua is scheduled for November 6. RJD has fielded sitting MLA Mukesh Roshan against Tej Pratap, while NDA is represented by Sanjay Kumar Singh of LJP(R) and Indrajit Pradhan of Jan Suraj. Independent candidate Aasman Parveen, formerly of the JDU, is also contesting after being denied a party ticket.
Development Works Define Voter Sentiment
Tej Pratap, who first contested Mahua in 2015 and later vacated the seat in 2020, is credited with laying the foundation for a medical college during his tenure as Health Minister. Residents say the college has boosted employment and local businesses. Tea seller Guddu Chauhan, who moved from Mumbai to Mahua, said, “Everything has happened because of Tej Pratap, so I will vote for him without a second thought.”
Some voters, however, remain torn between party loyalty and local development. Umesh Rai of Sadapur says, “On one side is Lalu’s son and on the other is Lalu’s candidate. We want Tejashwi to be CM, so we may vote for Mukesh Roshan. If he lags behind, we will support Tej Pratap.”
Local development, including education, employment, and infrastructure, dominates voter concerns. Amardeep, a youth returning from his PhD in Assam, says, “Because of a medical college, many people started businesses here. Education is a key issue. We want local institutions so we don’t have to go far for studies.”
Pramod, a handicapped auto driver, adds, “Nitish Kumar has done good work for Bihar, but Tej Pratap has done the most for Mahua. The medical college means we can now get treatment locally.”
Women Voters Appreciate Nitish’s Initiatives
Women voters also acknowledge the improvements brought by Nitish Kumar’s government. Meena Sharma, an NGO worker, says safety has improved, and women now have access to loans from Jeevika, allowing them to work outside the home. Pooja adds, “Ten years ago, girls feared leaving home. Now I can go out even at night, thanks to government initiatives.” Despite this, they intend to vote based on local development, highlighting Tej Pratap’s contributions.
Political Experts: Lalu’s Legacy and Tej Pratap’s Advantage
Political observers note that Tej Pratap may benefit from the enduring influence of Lalu’s name in Mahua. Journalist Vicky Kumar says, “Tej Pratap won here in 2015 and laid the foundation for the medical college. He is leveraging that work this election, and Lalu’s supporters see him as a rightful candidate despite his expulsion from RJD.”
Priyadarshi Ranjan, a political analyst, adds, “The real contest in Mahua is between RJD’s Mukesh Roshan and Tej Pratap. Tej Pratap’s image as a hardworking leader helps him capitalize on local development achievements.”
Senior journalist Praveen Bagi says, “Even though he has been expelled from the party, Tej Pratap’s claim to development work resonates with voters. His victory could be assured if Lalu or Rabri show support.”
Other Candidates and Contest Dynamics
Sanjay Kumar Singh of LJP(R), who came third in 2020, focuses on the outsider-versus-local debate. “Development hasn’t happened because outsiders win elections,” he claims. Independent candidate Asma Parveen emphasizes her continued connection to Mahua despite losing in 2020 and being denied a JDU ticket. “I entered politics to serve Mahua. I didn’t get the ticket, so I am contesting independently with public support,” she said.
With multiple candidates dividing the Yadav, Muslim, and EBC votes, analysts predict a closely fought contest. While Tej Pratap enjoys strong name recognition and local development credentials, the split among traditional RJD supporters could shape the final outcome.
