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Former Bihar minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav on Saturday announced that he would contest the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections as an independent candidate. The announcement came after he was expelled from the RJD and his family by former Bihar CM and party chief Lalu Prasad Yadav.

The estranged elder son Tej Pratap Yadav will contest as an independent from Mahua, the seat from where he contested in the 2015 state elections and was elected as an MLA. He was appointed as a minister in Nitish Kumar's Cabinet and served till 2017. The seat is now represented by Mukesh Kumar Raushan, while Tej Pratap represents the Hasanpur Assembly seat.

"Team Tej Pratap Yadav is a platform to reach the people... This time, Uncle (Nitish Kumar) will not become the Chief Minister. Whoever's government is formed, if they talk about youth, employment, education, and health, Tej Pratap Yadav will stand with them with full strength. We will contest the election from Mahua; there are many opponents, they have started to feel the itch," Yadav was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

Yadav further stated that he will support only those parties which focus on youth, education, employment, and health.

#WATCH | Patna, Bihar: Former state minister Tej Pratap Yadav says, "Team Tej Pratap Yadav is a platform to reach the people... This time, Uncle (Nitish Kumar) will not become the Chief Minister. Whoever's government is formed, if they talk about youth, employment, education, and… pic.twitter.com/gpb8cJK2e9

— ANI (@ANI) July 26, 2025

Tej Pratap further stated that several people are joining 'Team Tej Pratap', adding that "our doors are open for everyone." He also said he has no plans to form a party of his own as of now.

A few days ago Tej Pratap Yadav also held a political rally under a newbanner, with his supporters carrying a green and white flag with 'Team Tej Pratap' written on it. 

Yadav on Friday unfollowed several family members on X, including his sisters, which was being seen as a sign of deepening family rifts. 

Tej Pratap was expelled from the party after his videos with a woman named Anushka went viral on social media. The videos, posted from his account on May 24, claimed that the two were in a 12-year-old relationship. The next day, Lalu Yadav expelled his son, from both the family and the party.

Initially, Yadav claimed his account was hacked, but later admitted to posting the videos and photos himself. His brother Tejashwi Yadav publicly backed their father’s move.