NEW DELHI: Politics in Bihar saw the dominance of RJD patriarch Lalu Yadav and Janata Dal (United) chief Nitish Kumar for more than three decades. With Lalu and Nitish at the twilight of their careers, the upcoming assembly elections may lead Bihar into a phase of the "unknown," with a new face possibly taking the top job. Vaishali's Raghopur may witness the contest of the new faces firsthand, as RJD scion Tejashwi Yadav and Jan Suraaj chief Prashant Kishor may contest the elections from the turf that has long been dominated by the Lalu family. Lalu won from this seat in 1995 and 2000. He was followed by Rabri Devi, who secured victory in 2000 and 2005 but lost to JD(U)’s Satish Kumar Yadav in 2010 amid Nitish Kumar’s “sushashan” wave. Since 2015, Tejashwi has been winning
Bihar elections: Legacy, loyalty & new rivalry - why Raghopur could decide the next chapter

36