Latest update:
A throwback video of Tej Pratap Yadav correcting his Hindi oath by the then Bihar Governor Ram Nath Kovind was posted online after the Bihar election results.
Tej Pratap Yadav is the eldest son of Lalu Prasad Yadav. (Image source: X)
The results of the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections, announced on November 14, yielded few surprises and reaffirmed some political trends. Among the notable losers was Tej Pratap Yadav, the eldest son of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) president Lalu Prasad Yadav, who contested from Mahwah constituency. As his electoral defeat made headlines, a decade-old video suddenly caught the public’s attention.
The footage, dating back to November 19, 2015, shows an incident while Tej Pratap was being sworn in as a minister in the then Bihar government headed by Nitish Kumar. At that time, the then Governor of Bihar, Ram Nath Kovind, who later became President of India, was taking the oath. During the ceremony, Tej Pratap mispronounced a Hindi word in the oath, saying “Upekshit” (neglected) instead of the correct term “Apekshit” (expectations).
Kovind immediately intervened and insisted that the oath be recited precisely. He asked Tej Pratap to take the oath again and return it exactly as written, without additions or deletions.
The moment was captured on video and quickly became widely known, both for its political and humorous value.
Watch it here:
What is the swearing-in ceremony?
The swearing-in ceremony was a formal occasion, and Kovind’s literal approach highlighted the importance of procedural precision. The incident attracted political attention at the time, with Tej Pratap’s father, Lalu Prasad Yadav, criticizing the ruler’s strictness. Lalu even demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi retake his oath over similar alleged pronunciation errors, using the incident to make a broader political point.
Known in some circles as the “old video about rules,” the clip serves as a reminder of how seemingly small moments can impact Indian politics. It also reflects the audience’s fascination with Tej Pratap’s dramatic and often unfiltered public persona.
Tej Pratap’s journey into Bihar politics
Tej Pratap’s political journey since 2015 has been marked by ups and downs. After being expelled from the RJD, he founded his own party, the Janshakti Janata Dal (JJD), and contested the subsequent elections under its banner. He had won the Mahwa seat in 2015 and later bagged the Hasanpur seat in 2020.
Now, a decade later, the video’s resurfacing coincides with his latest electoral setback, providing social media users with a mix of nostalgia, humor and political commentary.
Whether seen as a humorous anecdote or a cautionary tale about the importance of accuracy, the video of Kovind correcting Tej Pratap continues to captivate audiences, proving that even ministers are not above a grammar lesson.
The team of writers at News18.com bring you stories about what’s buzzing on the internet while exploring science, cricket, technology, sex, Bollywood and culture.
Delhi, India, India
16 November 2025, 10:00 AM IST
Read more
