In a notable incident during the inaugural session of the newly constituted Bihar Assembly, Janata Dal (United) legislator Vibha Devi encountered difficulty while reading her oath of office. The newly elected MLA from Nawada was seen seeking guidance from a fellow member to complete the formal procedure.
The Oath-Taking Moment and Political Profile
Vibha Devi, who is the wife of former MLA and prominent figure Raj Ballabh Yadav, required help from the MLA seated beside her, Manorama Devi. With whispered prompts and support, she successfully finished reciting the oath. This moment occurred after her significant electoral victory where she secured the Nawada seat by defeating Rashtriya Janata Dal's (RJD) Kaushal Yadav with a convincing margin of 27,594 votes.
Her political entry was shaped by familial circumstances. Describing herself as a literate housewife and agriculturist, Vibha Devi entered politics as a proxy for her husband during his time in jail, leveraging the family's strong influence within the Yadav community in the region.
A Deep Dive into the MLA's Substantial Wealth
According to the election affidavit filed with the Election Commission of India for the 2025 Bihar Assembly polls, Vibha Devi Yadav declared total assets worth approximately ₹31 crore. Her declared liabilities stand at ₹5.2 crore, primarily composed of loans, and she reported an annual income of ₹1.1 crore for the financial year 2024-25.
Her wealth is bifurcated into substantial immovable and movable assets:
Immovable Assets (₹23.53 crore):
- Extensive agricultural land spanning several dozen acres in Nawada and Arwal districts.
- Two residential properties valued at ₹2 crore.
- Three commercial buildings and shops worth ₹1.5 crore.
Movable Assets (₹7.51 crore):
- Cash holdings of ₹1.5 lakh.
- Bank fixed deposits and savings amounting to ₹2.5 crore.
- Investments in shares, mutual funds, and bonds valued at ₹4.5 crore.
- Gold jewellery weighing around 800 grams and silver worth nearly ₹50 lakh.
Political Trajectory and Grassroots Connect
Vibha Devi's political career began with a loss in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from Nawada on an RJD ticket. She rebounded by winning the 2020 Bihar Assembly elections from the same constituency as an RJD candidate, defeating BJP's Binod Yadav by over 26,000 votes, thereby becoming her family's first woman MLA.
In a significant shift in early 2025, following her husband's acquittal and release, she resigned from the RJD. Citing ideological differences and admiration for Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's development model, she joined the JD(U) in February 2025. Upon her resignation, she emphasized the public's demand for development as a key motivator for her move.
Her grassroots appeal is built on a relatable "housewife-turned-leader" image. She has actively organized women's self-help groups (SHGs), free medical camps, and school enrollment drives. During her previous term (2021-2024), she raised crucial issues in the Assembly, advocating for higher agricultural subsidies, better crop insurance, and timely relief for farmers in flood-prone Nawada.
Her re-election comes as part of the NDA's historic landslide victory in the 2025 Bihar polls, where the alliance won 202 of the 243 seats. The JD(U) itself secured 85 seats within the coalition.
