Patna: Former state minister Tej Pratap Yadav, who was recently expelled from the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) by his father and party chief Lalu Prasad, on Tuesday announced a new coalition of five smaller political parties to contest the upcoming Bihar assembly elections.
Tej Pratap made the announcement at a press conference where leaders of the five parties — Vikas Vanchit Insaan Party (VVIP), Bhojpuriya Jan Morcha (BJM), Pragatisheel Janta Party (PJP), Wajib Adhikar Party (WAP) and Sanyukt Kisan Vikas Party (SKVP) – were present.
“People can mock me if they want, but I will walk my own path. This coalition will fight for social justice, equal rights, and a new Bihar. If elected, we will work to fulfil the dreams of leaders like Lohia, Karpoori Thakur, and Jayaprakash Narayan,” Tej Pratap said.
Tej Pratap said he would contest the Assembly polls as an Independent candidate from Mahua, a seat he represented until 2020 before being shifted to Hasanpur in the last election.
Lalu’s elder son claimed growing support through his social media outreach platform, ‘Team Tej Pratap Yadav.’
Yadav was expelled from the RJD on May 25, a day after a social media post surfaced in which he claimed to be in a relationship with one Anushka. Though he claimed the post was the result of a hacked account, Lalu disowned him, citing “irresponsible behaviour”.
Tej Pratap cried foul, alleging that a conspiracy was hatched to divide him and his younger brother Tejashwi Yadav, who is leading RJD in the upcoming polls.
Tej Pratap and Tejashwi are among nine children of former Bihar chief ministers Lalu and Rabri Devi.
