Tejashwi Yadav

Tejashwi Prasad Yadav (born 9 November 1989) is an Indian politician and former professional cricketer. He has previously served for two terms as the Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar and current leader of opposition in lower house. He is the youngest son of former Chief Ministers of Bihar Lalu Prasad Yadav and Rabri Devi.

Early life and education Mr. Yadav was born in Gopalganj, Bihar to Rabri Devi and Lalu Prasad Yadav, both former chief ministers of Bihar.

Personal life On 9 December 2021, Yadav married his long-time friend, Rachel Godinho, a Goan Catholic; she later changed her name to Rajshree Yadav. She is from Rewari, Haryana, and has been living in Delhi since childhood. She and Yadav studied together at DPS school in RK Puram, New Delhi.

Cricket career As a professional cricketer, he was in the Delhi Daredevils and the Jharkhand cricket team.

He captained his school cricket team. He led the Rashtriya Janata Dal in the 2020 Bihar Legislative Assembly elections, as the chief ministerial candidate of the Mahagathbandhan. The alliance won 110 seats in total out of 243, with RJD winning 75 seats, continuing to remain the single largest political party in Bihar. Since the majority required was 122, the alliance was unable to form the government, and he was elected as the Leader of Opposition of Bihar.

On 10 August 2022, he took oath as the Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar with Nitish Kumar taking oath as chief minister as part of the Mahagathbandan formed with RJD, Congress and other Opposition Parties.

In 2024, Nitish Kumar left the Mahagathbandhan and formed the government with BJP, effectively terminating Mr. Yadav's tenure as deputy chief minister once again.

He led the Rashtriya Janata Dal in the 2025 Bihar Legislative Assembly elections, as the chief ministerial candidate of the Mahagathbandhan. The alliance won 35 seats in total out of 243, with RJD winning 25 seats, a record low.

Positions held Tejashwi Yadav has served 3 times as MLA.

From To Position Constituency 2015 2020 MLA in the 16th Bihar Assembly Raghopur 2020 2025 MLA in the 17th Bihar Assembly Raghopur 2025 Present MLA in the 18th Bihar Assembly Raghopur

Criminal cases IRCTC Hotel Tender Scam In 2017, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed a case against Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rabri Devi, Tejashwi Yadav, and others alleging irregularities in awarding contracts to maintain IRCTC hotels in Ranchi and Puri during Lalu’s tenure as Railway Minister. A detailed charge sheet named Tejashwi Yadav as an accused for offences under IPC sections 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 420 (cheating), along with provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

This caused Nitish Kumar to pull the Janata Dal (United), out of the alliance and form a new government along with the Bharatiya Janata Party. The Enforcement Directorate also began a separate investigation under the money laundering law, claiming the money from these deals was moved through shell companies and benami properties to benefit the family. The ED attached several properties linked to Mr. Yadav and questioned Tejashwi several times. In 2023, the CBI filed a charge sheet naming him, and the court is currently hearing arguments on whether to formally frame charges.

Shakti Malik Murder Allegation In October 2020, former RJD leader Shakti Malik was shot dead in Purnia district, Bihar. He was killed by three men in Purnea district of Bihar on Sunday. The attackers, who arrived on a bike, entered Malik’s house while he was sleeping and shot him in the head, killing him instantly. After the killing, a video went viral in which Malik claimed that Tejashwi Prasad Yadav had demanded Rs 50 lakh as a donation for giving him a party ticket to contest from the Raniganj seat and had threatened to eliminate him if he continued his work in the constituency. The case was registered under sections for murder, criminal conspiracy, and the Arms Act. These include charges such as criminal conspiracy, cheating, forgery, and offences under anti-corruption and money-laundering laws. Many of the cases are tied to the IRCTC and land-for-jobs scams, while others stem from FIRs filed over political protests and alleged public order violations in Bihar.

Controversy Defamation Case over “Gujarati Thugs” Remark In 2024, Tejashwi Yadav courted controversy by remarking that “only Gujaratis can be thugs,” in an apparent jibe at economic offenders. A social worker in Gujarat filed a criminal defamation complaint against him under IPC sections 499 and 500. Tejashwi withdrew his remark in court, and in February 2024, the Supreme Court of India quashed the defamation proceedings, bringing the case to an end.