Bihar Election 2025: Sharad Yadav’s Son Shantanu Hits Out at RJD Leadership Over Ticket Issue

National News: The time for filing nominations for the first phase of the Bihar Assembly elections has ended, but the seat-sharing dispute within the Grand Alliance is still not fully resolved. Meanwhile, Shantanu Yadav, son of former senior leader Sharad Yadav who had merged his party with Tejashwi Yadav’s Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has made serious accusations against the RJD leadership.

'We Did Not Come Into Politics to Play Drums'

Former Union Minister Sharad Yadav’s son, Shantanu Yadav, accused the RJD of going back on its word. Shantanu said that his father had merged his party, the Loktantrik Janata Dal, with the RJD, but despite the promise, the party gave the election ticket to someone else. He said, “We did not come into politics to play drums; we will carry forward our father’s legacy.” The son of the late senior leader and founder of the Loktantrik Janata Dal, Sharad Yadav, Shantanu Yadav, openly criticized the RJD leadership. He said his father merged his party with the RJD based on the assurance that he would be given the Madhepura Lok Sabha seat, but even after the promise, he did not get the ticket.

Shantanu Yadav Upset Over Denial of Madhepura Ticket

Shantanu Yadav said, “My father merged his party with the RJD. At that time, it was promised that I would get a chance to contest the Lok Sabha elections from Madhepura. Later, Lalu Ji and Tejashwi Ji said I should contest the Assembly elections instead. Considering them as elders, I agreed. But now, at the last moment, the ticket has been given to someone else.” Hinting at his next step, Shantanu said he would talk to his supporters and local people before deciding on his future plan. Political experts believe Shantanu Yadav’s statement could affect the RJD’s equations in Madhepura, which is known as a stronghold of Yadav politics. Sharad Yadav had been elected MP from this seat several times and built a strong support base there.

'People Will Now Conspire Against Them': Subhashini Sharad Yadav

Congress leader and Sharad Yadav’s daughter, Subhashini Sharad Yadav, reacted to her brother’s statement. On social media platform X, she wrote, “Those who cannot stand with their own blood, how can they be loyal to others? This is the height of betrayal and a clear example of their uneasiness. The same conspiracy they created will now be turned against them by the people.” However, she did not name anyone directly. RJD, in an attempt to balance its ticket distribution, has given the Madhepura seat to another candidate, which has caused anger among some Yadav family supporters. So far, there has been no official response from the RJD regarding Shantanu Yadav’s allegations. If Shantanu decides to contest independently or take another step, it could impact the RJD’s vote base in Madhepura and the larger Kosi region.