Former Bihar minister Tej Pratap Yadav on Tuesday announced the formation of a new coalition of five smaller political parties to contest the upcoming
Bihar assembly elections. Yadav, recently expelled from the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) by his father and party chief Lalu Prasad, made the announcement at a press conference. Leaders of the five allied parties were also present. The alliance includes the Vikas Vanchit Insaan Party (VVIP), Bhojpuriya Jan Morcha (BJM), Pragatisheel Janta Party (PJP), Wajib Adhikar Party (WAP), and Sanyukt Kisan Vikas Party (SKVP). Tej Pratap said he would contest the assembly polls as an Independent candidate from Mahua, a seat he represented until 2020. In the last election, he was shifted to Hasanpur by the RJD. "People can mock me if they want, but I will walk my own path," Yadav said. "This coalition will fight for social justice, equal rights, and a new Bihar. If elected, we will work to fulfill the dreams of leaders like Lohia, Karpoori Thakur, and Jayaprakash Narayan,” he added. He also 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 a woman named Anushka. He later said the post was the result of a hacked account. Lalu Prasad disowned him, citing "irresponsible behaviour". Following his expulsion, Tej Pratap alleged that a conspiracy was being hatched to divide him and his younger brother, Tejashwi Yadav, who is leading the RJD in the upcoming polls. He made veiled references to betrayal, using the term "Jaichand" in social media posts. Tej Pratap and Tejashwi are sons of Lalu Prasad and former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi. They are among nine siblings.
