Patna: In a dramatic turn of events within Bihar’s political landscape, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) patriarch Lalu Prasad Yadav on Sunday announced the expulsion of his elder son, Tej Pratap Yadav, from the party for a period of six years. The decision, conveyed via a social media post, cited Tej Pratap’s “irresponsible conduct” and a stark deviation from the family’s established values and public decorum. This high-profile disciplinary action comes on the heels of a purported Facebook post by Tej Pratap that ignited a flurry of speculation.
The alleged post, which surfaced a day prior, claimed a 12-year romantic relationship between Tej Pratap and a woman named Anushka Yadav, sparking widespread discussion. However, Tej Pratap swiftly disavowed the post, asserting that his Facebook account had been hacked and the accompanying photographs manipulated to tarnish his and his family’s reputation. Despite his denial, Lalu Yadav’s stern response underscores the gravity with which the RJD supremo views the incident and its potential ramifications.
In his Hindi-written social media communiqué, the former Bihar Chief Minister articulated his rationale, stating, “Ignoring moral values in personal life weakens our collective struggle for social justice. The activities, public conduct and irresponsible behaviour of the eldest son are not in accordance with our family values and traditions. Therefore, due to the above circumstances, I am removing him from the party and family. From now on, he will not have any kind of role in the party, and the family. He is expelled from the party for 6 years.” Lalu Yadav further added, “He is capable of differentiating between the good and bad and the merits and demerits of his personal life. Whoever will have relations with him should take a decision as per their own discretion. I have always been an advocate of public shame in public life. The obedient members of the family have adopted and followed this idea in public life. Thank you.”
The development drew immediate reactions from within the party and the opposition. Tejashwi Yadav, Lalu Yadav’s younger son and Tej Pratap’s brother, addressed the media in Patna, offering a measured response. “As far as I am concerned, I neither like nor tolerate all this. Personal life should be separate. He is the elder one, and has the right to take his own decisions. But Lalu ji has also made his thoughts clear through a tweet. He did what he thought was right. I came to know about this only through the media,” Tejashwi stated, highlighting his preference for a clear demarcation between personal and political spheres.
Meanwhile, the Janata Dal (United) (JDU), led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, wasted no time in criticising Lalu Prasad Yadav’s move, branding it an “eyewash” orchestrated by the RJD patron with an eye on the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections. JDU national spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan questioned the timing and sincerity of the action, remarking, “Lalu ji is misleading. Why did his conscience not awake when the Lalu family committed a heinous sin against Aishwarya (Tej Pratap Yadav’s former wife). This is pure immorality. He is misleading the people at the time of the elections and after the polls, Tej Pratap will be taken back into the party.”
The JDU’s jab references the ongoing and acrimonious divorce proceedings between Tej Pratap and Aishwarya Rai, the granddaughter of former Bihar Chief Minister Daroga Rai. Their marriage famously crumbled within months, with Aishwarya accusing her husband and in-laws of mistreatment. Her father, Chandrika Roy, a former minister himself, had subsequently quit the RJD in protest, vowing to fight the battle “politically and legally.”
The purported Facebook post on Saturday had garnered significant online traction, with some netizens applauding Tej Pratap’s perceived courage, while others speculated about the possibility of a future marriage. However, Tej Pratap’s subsequent clarification, also in Hindi, categorically denied the veracity of the post: “My social media platforms have been hacked and my photos are being edited inappropriately to harass and defame me and my family. I appeal to my well-wishers and followers to stay alert and not pay attention to any rumours.”
As the Bihar Assembly Elections loom, Tej Pratap Yadav is reportedly preparing to contest from the Mahua seat in Vaishali district, a constituency he had previously won in 2015, leaving his current Hasanpur seat in Samastipur. This internal family drama, now spilling into the public domain, is likely to add another intriguing layer to the already charged political atmosphere in Bihar.