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Patna: Tejashwi Yadav, the youngest son of Bihar’s political stalwart and former Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, is leading the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) in the state’s 2025 Assembly Elections. He is the Chief Ministerial face of the opposition-led Mahagathbandhan alliance in Bihar, comprising the Congress, VIP, and other Left parties. Tejashwi Yadav, who has served as the youngest Deputy Chief Minister and also as Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in Bihar, is now tasked with a formidable challenge in these high-stakes elections, trying to revive the fortunes of a party still burdened by the legacy of his father’s infamous 'Jungle Raj' era. Tejashwi Yadav’s Innings - From Cricket to Politics Born as the youngest child of Lalu Yadav and Rabri Devi, Tejashwi aspired to pursue a career in cricket. Academically, he did not achieve much, according to some reports, he studied only up to Class 9 at Delhi Public School, RK Puram. He paused his academic journey to chase his sporting dream, but it didn’t yield the breakthrough he may have hoped for. As a budding cricketer, Tejashwi began as captain of his school team and was selected for Delhi’s U-15 squad as an all-rounder at the age of 13. His team included Virat Kohli as captain, and he once shared a match-winning partnership with Ishant Sharma in a final game. Later, he dropped out in Class X and went on to play for Delhi’s U-17 and U-19 teams. He was also selected as a standby player for the India U-19 squad. In 2008, Tejashwi was part of the IPL team Delhi Daredevils and the Jharkhand state team, but remained on the reserve bench throughout the seasons from 2008 to 2012. Despite multiple attempts, he couldn’t secure the breakthrough he had dreamt of. In 2013, he retired from cricket. Tejashwi’s Entry into Politics Tejashwi made his electoral debut in the 2015 Bihar Assembly elections, contesting from the Raghopur constituency on an RJD ticket, a family bastion for years and won. Upon being elected as an MLA, he was appointed Deputy Chief Minister in the Nitish Kumar-led Mahagathbandhan government, after Kumar parted ways with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). With Lalu Yadav’s declining health and his leadership overshadowed by corruption charges, Tejashwi gradually emerged as the de facto leader of the RJD. In the 2020 Assembly elections, Tejashwi-led the Mahagathbandhan as its Chief Ministerial face, this time without Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United). Although the RJD emerged as the single largest party, securing a couple more seats than the BJP, the alliance fell short of the magic number. It was the NDA that ultimately formed the government, and Tejashwi assumed the role of Leader of the Opposition. However, fortunes briefly turned in his favour in 2022, when Nitish Kumar once again broke ties with the NDA and formed a government with the Mahagathbandhan, making Tejashwi Yadav Deputy Chief Minister once more. The magic didn’t last long. Ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Nitish Kumar switched sides yet again, returning to the NDA fold, leaving Tejashwi Yadav once again as the Leader of Opposition. Tejashwi Yadav's Criminal Cases and Scandals Been the former Deputy Deputy Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition, Tejashwi Yadav has been surrounded in many controversies from facing as many as 11 criminal cases to his involvement in conspiracy, cheating, and corruption charges. IRCTC Hotel Tender Scam In 2017, Tejashwi Yadav was named as one of the accused, along with his father Lalu Prasad Yadav and mother Rabri Devi, by the CBI in a case involving irregularities in awarding contracts to maintain IRCTC hotels in Ranchi and Puri during Lalu’s tenure as Railway Minister. Land-for-Jobs Scam Tejashwi was named as an accused in 2022, along with Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rabri Devi, and other family members, for allegedly accepting plots of land from individuals in exchange for Group D railway jobs during Lalu’s tenure as Railway Minister between 2004 and 2009. Shakti Malik Murder Case In 2020, former RJD leader Shakti Malik was shot dead in Bihar’s Purnia district. Later, his family filed an FIR accusing Tejashwi Yadav and his brother Tej Pratap Yadav in connection with the murder. Tejashwi Yadav's Bihar Challenge Tejashwi Yadav has been a two-time MLA from the Raghopur constituency and is eyeing his third victory in the 2025 Bihar Assembly Elections. Voting in Raghopur concluded in the first phase on November 7. The youngest son faces a tough challenge in this Bihar elections to lead his party and INDIA bloc alliance against a strong government led by CM Nitish Kumar backed by PM Modi-led BJP. Tejashwi not just only faces a challenge to overshadow Lalu Yadav's 'Jungle Raj' image but to revive RJD way beyond his father's legacy when crime, corruption, kidnappings, political murder were rampant. Bihar Assembly elections are being held in two phases. Voting in the first phase on 121 seats has already concluded on November 6, while polling in remaining 122 seats is set for November 11. The results will be declared on November 14. For the Latest news, India News, Bihar Election 2025 updates and breaking stories from around the world, visit Times Now for live coverage and in-depth reporting.
