'No one can compete with us': Tej Pratap Yadav says Mahua backing JJD; vows to work for Bihar

NEW DELHI: Janshakti Janata Dal (JJD) chief Tej Pratap Yadav on Monday exuded confidence ahead of the Bihar elections, saying he enjoys massive support in his constituency of Mahua and that “no one can compete” with his party.

"You all should come to Mahua and see if I am getting support or not. No one can compete with us. No one can stand in front of the blackboard... An atmosphere of targeting the Muslims should not be created," Tej Pratap told reporters.


The former Bihar minister, who is contesting from Mahua once again, said the real power lies with the voters and that the people of Bihar will decide who will form the next government.

"Everything depends on the mood of the voters. Only time will tell what happens... What should I do (if Tejashwi Yadav has been announced as the CM face)... I face no challenge in Mahua... I don’t consider anyone as my enemy... Our agenda is to only work for Bihar," he said when asked about the INDIA bloc naming Tejashwi Yadav as its chief ministerial candidate.

Tej Pratap also underlined that his party’s core agenda is development and public welfare. "Our agenda is to only work for Bihar," he said, dismissing talk of rivalries or personal battles.

Last week, Yadav filed his nomination papers from Mahua with much fanfare, leading a roadshow while carrying a photograph of his grandmother, whom he described as his guiding force.

"I have moved ahead with the blessings of my grandmother and my parents. On this auspicious occasion, as I am required to file my nomination, I have brought my grandmother with me. She lives on in our hearts... People of Mahua will support whoever works for them. I worked to make Mahua a district and also give employment opportunities to the youth," he said.

The JJD recently announced its first list of 22 candidates for the upcoming Bihar assembly elections, with Tej Pratap expected to be one of the key faces in the campaign.

Bihar will vote in two phases -- on November 6 and November 11 -- with counting scheduled for November 14. The electoral contest is shaping up as a three-cornered fight between the ruling NDA, the INDIA bloc led by RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav, and new entrants like Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj and Tej Pratap’s JJD, both aiming to reshape Bihar’s political landscape.


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