Tej Pratap Yadav, once a scion of the RJD dynasty, has walked a rocky path in recent months. On May 25, 2025, he was expelled by his father and party supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav from the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), ostensibly for “irresponsible behaviour” and conduct deemed unbecoming.That move also signaled a personal and political chasm in the Yadav family. 

In the days following, Tej Pratap tried to consolidate alliances. He formed a front of smaller parties, including Vanchit Vikas Insaan Party (VVIP), Bhojpurya Jan Morcha, Pragatisheel Janta Party, Wajib Adhikar Party, and Sanyukt Kisan Vikas Party, declaring his intent to contest the assembly polls. But those alliances were fragile and represented more of an experiment in breaking free from RJD’s shadow.

Politically, there was speculation for months that Tej Pratap might float his own party. At one point he denied such intentions, even saying he “prays for RJD” despite the fissure. But the current reveal shows he steered past those denials and decided to step out with his own banner.

The Launch: Birth of Jan Shakti Janata Dal

In August 2025, Tej Pratap formally floated his new outfit, Jan Shakti Janata Dal (sometimes also spelled Janshakti Janata Dal). The announcement came with fanfare and a symbolic push: his party got its symbol recognized — the blackboard. 

On social media (X, previously Twitter), Tej Pratap declared:

“We are fully dedicated and ready for the overall development of Bihar. Our aim is to bring about a complete transformation and build a new system. We are prepared to fight a long battle for Bihar’s progress.” 

In the party’s promotional posters, he chose to place figures like Mahatma Gandhi, B. R. Ambedkar, Ram Manohar Lohia, Jayaprakash Narayan, and Karpoori Thakur — but no image of his father, Lalu Prasad Yadav. That omission was widely read as a deliberate signal: this is not RJD revisited, but a new direction. 

Tej Pratap also inaugurated a party office in Bihiya, Bhojpur district, asking the state government to develop the area’s temple into a religious-tourism spot. The Times of India With hundreds of supporters in attendance, the move tried to anchor the new party in grassroots presence.

The Stakes: Challenge, Identity, and Electoral Gamble

This isn’t a trivial spin — Tej Pratap’s new party makes a statement.

Challenge within the Yadav fold
By launching his own outfit, he positions himself as a parallel alternative to his younger brother, Tejashwi Yadav, who is now the key face of the opposition in Bihar. 

Signal to discontented leaders & voters
If some RJD leaders or supporters feel sidelined — over tickets, ideology, or leadership style — Tej Pratap’s party might become a refuge. He may try to draw on local networks, caste equations, or dissatisfaction with incumbents. The gamble: can he convert that discontent into seats?

Branding a fresh narrative
He’s not just riding legacy — the blackboard symbol suggests education, writing a new script. The ideological font of the posters (with Gandhi, Ambedkar, Lohia) hints he wants to be seen not as dynastic, but as transformational. That’s a murky but ambitious territory in Bihar politics. 

Electoral risks
Launching a party in a highly competitive state like Bihar is hard. Resources, organizational depth, ticket allocation — all demanding. Even the alliances he tried earlier were thin. The worry: he may end up being a fringe disruptor rather than a power broker if the party fails to cross thresholds.

Impact on alliances
Because politics in Bihar is alliance-heavy, his move can ripple. Which national parties or regional blocs would court him? Will he join or challenge INDIA/NDA alignments? In a tight election, even a few seats can shift balance.

Reactions & Early Signals

Within RJD: The move has stung reputations. The party and its leadership may view this as betrayal or fragmentation. RJD has long prided itself on unity under the Yadav banner; a splinter could dent that image.

Among rivals: Other parties may see opening to woo disillusioned Tej Pratap supporters or use his absence to push further in Yadav-majority pockets.

Public reception: At the party launch, crowds in Bhojpur and local support were visible. But mass resonance beyond certain pockets is yet untested.

Media & pundits: Many call it a high-stakes gamble — either it births a new political force or fades as another floating outfit.

Symbol & identity: The blackboard is a fresh choice, but newer parties in Bihar often struggle with recall unless they deliver local impact quickly.

Possible Trajectories

Growing regional strength: If Jan Shakti Janata Dal manages to win even a handful of seats, it could become a kingmaker in coalition politics.

Merger or alignment: If alone it struggles, it might merge with another party or align formally with a major bloc.

Marginal player: Worst case, it remains a footnote — regional in influence but negligible in assembly outcomes.

Provoking internal reform in RJD: Even if it doesn’t succeed, its presence might force RJD to reshape candidate selection, internal democracy, or leadership style to retain loyalty.

Closing Thoughts

What Tej Pratap is doing here is audacious. He’s betting on a mix of brand reinvention, destabilizing old lines, and ground-level traction. In Bihar’s chessboard of caste, alliance, development promises, and family legacies, this new party is a bold piece. The question is — can it avoid being a pawn?