Despite unfavourable exit poll predictions, RJD Chief Tejashwi Yadav appeared optimistic on Wednesday as he met the press, expressing strong confidence in Mahagathbandhan’s performance in the just-concluded Assembly elections. He also thanked the people of Bihar for their trust and for turning up in large numbers to cast their votes.
To questions about the disappointing exit poll predictions for the Mahagathbandhan, Yadav reacted angrily, saying that these surveys were conducted entirely at the behest of the "godi media." He stated that there was going to be a change this time, adding that the situation in Bihar is “like that of 1995." “The atmosphere is like 1995, this time change is certain,” the RJD chief said.
While Yadav’s statement revoked memories of the 1995 elections, here is a throwback at what happened three decades ago.
#WATCH | #BiharElection2025 | Patna: RJD leader and Mahagathbandhan CM face Tejashwi Yadav says, "...The feedback that we have been getting is very positive. This is better than the 1995 elections' feedback. There was a high voter turnout and people voted against this Govt. There… pic.twitter.com/nQ7Vw93C8i
— ANI (@ANI) November 12, 2025
The 1995 Bihar elections set a new trend in caste politics in the state, which saw backward castes emerging as powerful, pushing the forward castes to the margin of the state’s politics. The elections were fought at the height of Mandal and Kamandal politics.
The elections saw Lalu Prasad Yadav, then the chief of Janata Dal, emerging all-powerful, winning 167 of the 264 seats. He rode a wave of anti-Congress sentiments with Yadavs and Dalits as its core base and positioned himself as a leader for the lower castes in a state, focusing on social empowerment measures. Lalu Prasad Yadav also brought in several populist measures, such as bringing ‘savarna’ schools to Dalit hamlets, actions against backward minorities, which made him the hero of the masses.
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While the BJP could win just 41 of the 215 seats, Congress was totally sidelined, winning just 29 out of the 320 seats it fielded candidates.
That said, things did not end well for Lalu Prasad Yadav. He was embroiled in the Rs 950-crore embezzlement scam, which came to be known as the fodder scam. The investigation revealed that under the Lalu government, large-scale state funds had been given to non-existent companies to buy animal feed. The tentacles of the corruption ended up at high levels, which saw the CBI file charges against Lalu himself. Subsequently, he resigned from the party, and the infighting resulted in the JD(U) split. Lalu went on to form his own party, called the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).
However, Lalu was forced to resign as the Chief Minister in June 1997, only to replace himself with his wife Rabri Devi.
