Tejashwi, Tej Pratap’s Father Was ‘Viral’ Even Before Internet Existed! But Have They Inherited Lalu Yadav’s Rustic Wit? | Politics News

Last Updated:November 14, 2025, 08:30 IST

With ballots cast and counting looming, the question is no longer who will win, but who left a bigger mark along the campaign trail.

Tej Pratap is Tejashwi Yadav’s elder brother. (Photo Credit: X)

Bihar has voted, the booths are quiet, and the state now holds its breath for the 2025 Assembly election results. This year, the contest went beyond numbers and alliances, becoming a battle of personality, wit and family drama between political stalwart Lalu Prasad Yadav’s sons, Tejashwi and Tej Pratap.

With the ballots cast and counting only hours away, the question isn’t only who will win, but who made the most lasting impression on the campaign trail.

Tejashwi, the RJD and Mahagathbandhan-backed Chief Ministerial candidate, ran a well-orchestrated campaign, mingling sharp political jabs with light-hearted quips. Tej Pratap, expelled from the family and campaigning independently under the JJD, leaned on personal anecdotes, eccentric antics, and viral moments to assert his presence.

As Bihar waits for the voters’ verdict, one unofficial contest stands out: who entertained the state more?

Who Is Funnier?

Tejashwi Yadav

Tejashwi often uses humour in his public speeches and jibes. For instance, in one press conference when tensions were high, he lightened the tone by saying his rival, LJP leader Chirag Paswan, “should get married”, and the room broke into laughter.

Humour can cut both ways: he has also been mocked. Example – when he compared himself to global tech icons like Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg and was trolled for the comparison.

Tej  Pratap Yadav

Tej  Pratap’s humour (or viral moments) are more “off‑beat” and raw. For example, a video showed him stopping his car at a roadside sweet shop and making jalebi himself and then eating it.

The unique, unconventional entrances of his candidates under his banner also drew attention this election season. One came to the nomination on a buffalo, another in handcuffs.

Popularity: Who Leads?

Tejashwi Yadav

Pre‑election data shows Tejashwi strong as the CM face for the opposition. A People’s Pulse survey, reported in NDTV, put him as the most preferred candidate for Chief Minister.

An opinion poll by The Times of India said Tejashwi secured 36.5 per cent support as the preferred CM face ahead of others in 2025. He contested from his stronghold, Raghopur (Vaishali district), the Yadav family bastion.

Tej  Pratap Yadav

His popularity is more niche. He has social‐media visibility, viral videos, and a distinct persona. But electorally, his new political setup (after being expelled from RJD) is untested and smaller in scale. He is contesting from Mahua, another seat with familial ties.

He reportedly claimed his party would win “10‑15″ seats in the 243-member assembly.

Who Is More Like Lalu  Prasad Yadav?

Tej  Pratap Yadav: The “Lalu Style” candidate

Many observers say Tej  Pratap resembles his father in his raw, emotive style, the rustic charm, the plain‐spoken tone. A viral video was titled “Lalu Prasad Yadav jaisa andaz” (style just like Lalu) in reference to him. His political moves are unpredictable, dramatic, and rooted in that kind of “mass connect” persona characteristic of Lalu. That aligns him with the idea of “Lalu’s heir in spirit”.

Tejashwi Yadav: A modernised version

Tejashwi, by contrast, is less about rustic charm and more about strategic politics, larger ambitions, coalition building, and modern campaign style. He is seen as carrying forward the legacy but in a different idiom. Observers say he lacks the raw populist charisma of Lalu.

Times When The Two Brothers Went Viral

At a rally in the Mohiuddinnagar (Samastipur) area, a video of a child on stage went viral. He was saying, “Jab CM ban jaayenge Tejashwi bhaiya, toh katta leke ghumunga…” (When Tejashwi ji becomes CM, I’ll walk around with a country‑made gun). The video triggered a backlash, with the Bharatiya Janata Party calling it a glorification of gun culture.

At Patna Airport, a video captured the two brothers crossing paths. Tej Pratap was seen browsing for a “38 size bandi (Nehru jacket)” at a garment store while Tejashwi approaches; the interaction, body language and silence became widely commented on.

Tej  Pratap’s departure from the family and party (expelled by his father and the RJD) itself became fodder for social‑media commentary and external framing of his persona.

Tejashwi Yadav is generally seen as funnier in politics and enjoys wider popularity, while Tej Pratap’s humour, mostly on social media, appeals to a smaller audience. Their rivalry also shows their different ties to Lalu’s style: Tej Pratap often claims he is like the “real” Lalu, while Tejashwi is seen as less aligned with his father’s persona.

News Desk

The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d…Read More

The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d… Read More

Read More