#BiharResults: Early Mahua Trends Show Tej Pratap’s JJD Trailing RJD’s Mukesh Raushan

Vote counting for the Bihar Assembly Elections 2025 unfolded on November 14 in the constituency of Mahua, where early trends revealed a nail-biting contest between Janshakti Janata Dal (JJD) candidate Tej Pratap Yadav and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) incumbent Mukesh Kumar Raushan, with the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and other contenders adding layers to the multi-cornered fray. As postal ballots were tallied first, followed by electronic voting machine (EVM) counts starting at 8:30 a.m. IST, initial rounds showed Tej Pratap briefly surging ahead, only to trail shortly after as Raushan reclaimed the lead by a slim margin. This swing underscored the volatility of the race in the Yadav-dominated Vaishali district seat, which polled in the first phase on November 6 amid a record 66.91% statewide turnout. Across Bihar's 243 constituencies, the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA)—comprising the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)), and allies—gained an early edge, leading in over 100 seats against the Mahagathbandhan (MGB) opposition bloc's 67, setting a broader context of high-stakes political manoeuvring.

The drama in Mahua symbolises deeper family and ideological rifts within Bihar's influential Yadav clan, as Tej Pratap—elder son of RJD patriarch Lalu Prasad Yadav—seeks to reclaim the seat he won in 2015 under the RJD banner with 66,927 votes (43.34% share), defeating Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular)'s Ravindra Ray by over 28,000 votes. Expelled from the RJD around six years ago following personal controversies and a public fallout with his family, Tej Pratap launched the JJD in 2025 as a coalition of five regional parties, fielding 21 candidates statewide and positioning himself as a fresh voice for "people's power". Contesting against his former party's sitting MLA Raushan—who secured the seat in 2020 with 62,580 votes (36.48% share) over JD(U)'s Ashma Parveen—he faces not only a direct challenge to the RJD's hold but also potential vote fragmentation from Lok Jansakti Party (Ram Vilas) (LJP(RV))'s Sanjay Kumar Singh and Jan Suraaj Party's (JSP) Indrajeet Pradhan. Tej Pratap's pre-counting inspection of the strong room at Raj Narain College and his defiant assertion of victory highlighted the personal stakes, even as his brother Tejashwi Yadav—RJD leader and MGB's chief ministerial face—leads comfortably from the nearby Raghopur stronghold.

As trends fluctuated through the morning—with Tej Pratap leading in some rounds per NDTV and DNA reports before slipping behind Raushan in others, as noted by Mint and India Today—the outcome remained too close to call, potentially hinging on Yadav voter consolidation and minority outreach in this diverse assembly segment with over 265,000 electors. AIMIM's presence, alongside JSP's statewide push under Prashant Kishor, introduced wildcard elements that could syphon votes from both JJD and RJD, echoing broader MGB concerns over opposition splits in key belts like Bhojpur. For Tej Pratap, a win would mark a dramatic comeback and validation for his fledgling party, while defeat might deepen the family's political schism amid the NDA's statewide momentum. With full results expected by evening, Mahua's verdict will not only decide its representative but also signal the resilience of familial legacies in Bihar's fractious electoral landscape.

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This close fight in Mahua, amid the NDA's apparent surge toward a majority of 122 seats, reinforces the elections' role as a referendum on Nitish Kumar's alliance stability versus Tejashwi's promises of change, with implications rippling to national politics through the INDIA bloc. As counting progresses under tight security at 37 centres statewide, the constituency's fluid leads—mirroring early NDA advantages in 40 of 66 tracked seats—highlight voter priorities on jobs, development, and caste dynamics that defined the two-phase campaign. Regardless of the final tally, Mahua's battle underscores Bihar's enduring blend of dynasty, rebellion, and regional fervour, setting the stage for coalition negotiations that could reshape the state's governance for the next five years.

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