Patna: The Mahua Assembly constituency in Bihar, long known for its political volatility and headline-grabbing contests, has once again emerged as a focal point in the 2025 state elections. Early trends on Friday signalled a tough road ahead for former RJD leader and Janshakti Janata Dal (JJD) chief Tej Pratap Yadav, who is trailing as counting progresses. The lead, for now, rests with Sanjay Kumar Singh, the candidate fielded by the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), which is part of the NDA.
Mahua, part of the influential Hajipur Lok Sabha seat, has historically played a decisive role in regional politics. This year, the contest has gained added significance due to Tej Pratap’s dramatic exit from the RJD, the party founded by his father, Lalu Prasad Yadav. Once the RJD’s face in Mahua, having won the seat in 2015, Tej Pratap now returns carrying a new political banner after a series of public disagreements and an eventual expulsion from the party.
His primary challenger is Mukesh Raushan, the sitting RJD MLA, who is aiming to retain the seat amid the reshuffled dynamics of the constituency. However, the battle is far from a simple clash between former colleagues. With the NDA consolidating around Sanjay Singh and Independent candidate Ashma Parveen, who emerged as a strong runner-up in 2020, maintaining her presence, Mahua has turned into a multi-cornered contest where every vote may count.
Statewide, early trends as of Friday morning showed the NDA gaining an edge, leading in 66 seats as counting began across Bihar. The Mahagathbandhan was trailing with leads in 47 constituencies, as per initial Election Commission figures. While these numbers remain preliminary, they hint at another closely fought election in the state.
Adding intrigue to the Mahua race are statements made by Tej Pratap earlier this week. The JJD chief claimed he was “under threat”, alleging that his adversaries might attempt to harm him. “My security has been increased. I am under threat. My enemies may even get me killed. Everyone seems like an enemy,” he told reporters. However, he refrained from naming those he believes are targeting him. The remark stirred discussions about political tensions and personal security concerns within the constituency.
Ahead of counting day, Tej Pratap also inspected the strong room in Mahua to assess security and logistical arrangements. Speaking to the media, he expressed satisfaction with the preparations, saying, “I inspected the strong room. The arrangements are good.” He also dismissed comments directed at him by RJD leader Sunil Kumar Singh, calling him a “faltu aadmi” whose words held no value.
In a separate development, statewide attention also turned to Mokama, where jailed JD(U) leader Anant Singh secured an early lead from behind bars, reinforcing the constituency’s history of strongmen influencing electoral contestation.
With counting still underway and trends shifting by the minute, Mahua remains one of the most closely watched constituencies in Bihar. As the day progresses, all eyes will remain on whether Tej Pratap can make a comeback, or whether Mahua is poised for another political realignment.
