Chaos at Mahnar Rally: Tej Pratap Yadav Faces Backlash from RJD Supporters, Family Rift Deepens

Patna, Oct 205 : Political drama unfolded in Bihar’s Mahnar assembly constituency when Tej Pratap Yadav, elder son of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav, faced severe opposition during an election rally on Thursday. The event turned chaotic as Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supporters began chanting slogans in support of Tejashwi Yadav and the party’s lantern symbol, forcing Tej Pratap to leave the venue amid tension.

The incident occurred when Tej Pratap had come to campaign for Jan Shakti Janata Dal (JJD) candidate Jai Singh Rathore. According to eyewitnesses, the protest broke out as soon as Tej Pratap took the stage, with a large section of the crowd shouting, “Tejashwi Yadav Zindabad” and “Lantern Zindabad.” Many even chased his convoy after the rally, creating a scene of chaos and embarrassment for the elder Yadav.

Humiliation at the Rally Venue

Tej Pratap Yadav had arrived at the Hiranand High School grounds in Mahnar to address the public around 5:00 PM. He spoke for about an hour, but the atmosphere grew increasingly hostile as RJD supporters disrupted the event with slogans in favour of Tejashwi. The chants grew louder when Tej Pratap attempted to continue his speech.

After the meeting, Tej Pratap’s convoy was reportedly chased by a group of slogan-shouting supporters. Having arrived by helicopter earlier, he had to leave the venue by road due to nightfall. The confrontation intensified as his vehicle attempted to leave Mahnar for his home constituency of Mahua, where protesters continued raising slogans against him.

Candidate’s Allegation of Conspiracy

JJD candidate Jai Singh Rathore, on whose behalf Tej Pratap was campaigning, accused RJD workers of deliberately creating chaos. “The entire incident was orchestrated by RJD candidate Ravindra Singh. While the rally went smoothly, the disturbance began when we were leaving,” Rathore claimed.

He further alleged that Ravindra Singh had bought his RJD ticket for ₹15–16 crore and planned to spend another ₹5–6 crore on the election campaign. “He is distributing money and liquor to lure voters. If he doesn’t win, he will incite such incidents to create a lawless situation—another ‘jungle raj’. But the people of Bihar understand everything,” Rathore said. He also appealed to the local administration for security, claiming a threat to his safety.

Family Rift Comes to the Fore

The Mahnar incident has once again brought to light the deepening rift within the Lalu Yadav family. Strained relations between Tej Pratap and his younger brother Tejashwi Yadav have been evident for months, particularly after Tej Pratap launched his own political outfit, the Jan Shakti Janata Dal (JJD), signalling a split from the RJD.

Recently, Tej Pratap stirred controversy by questioning Tejashwi’s claim of being a “Jan Nayak” (people’s leader). He remarked, “Tejashwi calls himself a people’s leader while remaining under Lalu Prasad Yadav’s protection. True leaders are those who connect directly with the people, like Lalu Prasad Yadav, Karpoori Thakur, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, and Mahatma Gandhi.”

The feud between the two brothers also spilled into their election campaigns. Tej Pratap had earlier warned that if Tejashwi campaigned in Mahua against him, he would reciprocate by campaigning in Raghopur, Tejashwi’s stronghold.

The Mahnar episode has therefore deepened the cracks in the Yadav political family. Once united under Lalu’s leadership, the family now appears divided ahead of a crucial election season, with the rivalry between the brothers threatening to split traditional RJD support in several constituencies.