Tejashwi files nomination papers from Raghopur

Patna/Hajipur: RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Wednesday filed nomination papers from Raghopur Assembly constituency of Bihar, where he is aiming at a hat-trick, and scoffed at speculations that he was planning to contest more than one seat.

The Raghopur constituency had, in the past, elected his parents, both of them chief ministers of Bihar.

Yadav, aged 35, filed his nomination papers at the collectorate in Hajipur, the headquarters of Vaishali district, in the presence of father Lalu Prasad, the RJD president, and mother Rabri Devi.

Several close aides and family members, like Misa Bharti, Patliputra MP and eldest sister, and Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Yadav, were also accompanying the former deputy CM.

Talking to reporters on the occasion, Yadav said: “Several people were involved in spreading rumours that I had plans to contest two seats. The voters of Raghopur have reposed their trust in me twice, and I am going to contest only this one seat. Although I have been telling the people of Bihar to think that they are voting for Tejashwi in all 243 seats, where different candidates of separate constituents of the INDIA bloc are in the fray”.

Yadav’s remark comes close on the heels of Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor, who had caused a flutter in the recent past by stating that he might contest against the RJD leader, making it clear that his party has advised him not to enter the fray and focus on strengthening the organisation.

Kishor had sneered when his attention was drawn to reports in a section of the media that Yadav was planning to contest another seat, besides Raghopur.

“If Tejashwi Yadav does so, he will meet the same fate in Raghopur as alliance partner Rahul Gandhi, the Congress leader who won Wayanad in 2019 Lok Sabha polls, but was defeated in Amethi, formerly his stronghold”, the former political strategist said.