The democratic process has concluded in Bihar, with the 2025 Assembly Elections setting a new benchmark for voter participation. The state witnessed its highest electoral turnout since the inaugural polls in 1951, reaching an impressive 66.91% across two phases of voting.
Political Landscape and Exit Poll Predictions
As the counting of votes approaches, exit polls are painting a clear picture of the potential outcome. Most surveys are predicting a victory for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). However, in what could be a significant development, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), which contested as a key component of the Mahagathbandhan coalition, is projected to emerge as the single largest party in the assembly.
The Mahua Constituency: A Family Drama Unfolds
Among all the constituencies, the battle in Mahua has captured maximum attention. This Yadav-dominated seat features a compelling political drama involving the state's most prominent political family.
Tej Pratap Yadav, the elder son of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav, is attempting to reclaim the seat he previously won in the 2015 elections. However, the circumstances have dramatically changed since his earlier victory.
This time, Tej Pratap is not contesting under the familiar RJD banner. After a very public falling out with his family and subsequent expulsion from the party, he formed his own political outfit called the Janshakti Janata Dal (JJD). He is fighting this election representing his own party, setting up an unprecedented family confrontation.
Standing against him is the incumbent RJD MLA Mukesh Kumar Raushan, who secured the Mahua seat in the 2020 election. The contest becomes even more intriguing considering that Tej Pratap's own brother, Tejashwi Yadav, is the Mahagathbandhan's chief ministerial candidate.
What's at Stake in Mahua
The outcome in Mahua will be closely watched as it represents more than just another assembly seat. For Tej Pratap Yadav, a victory would validate his political standing independent of his family's legacy and the RJD machinery. It would demonstrate his personal political strength and could reposition him as a significant force in Bihar politics.
Conversely, a defeat would raise questions about his ability to carve out an independent political path outside the family fold. The results will indicate whether voters in this Yadav-dominated constituency prioritize family loyalty or are willing to support a rebel from the same family.
The election commission is now preparing for the counting process, with the entire political landscape of Bihar hanging in the balance. The results from Mahua constituency will be particularly significant, potentially reshaping political equations within the state's most influential political family.
Follow this space for LIVE updates from the Mahua Assembly constituency as Tej Pratap Yadav faces off against Mukesh Kumar Raushan in one of the most keenly watched contests of the Bihar Election 2025.
