In a dramatic turn of events that has sent ripples across Bihar’s political landscape, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav expelled his elder son, Tej Pratap Yadav, from the party for a period of six years.
The decision, unprecedented in the party’s history, was justified by Lalu as necessary to preserve the moral and ideological foundations of the RJD.
At the heart of the controversy lies a now-deleted social media post from Tej Pratap Yadav’s verified Facebook account, which featured a photograph of him alongside a woman identified as Anushka Yadav.
The accompanying caption declared a 12-year-long romantic relationship with her. “We have known each other for the last 12 years and love each other deeply… I wanted to share this with all of you for a long time,”
The revelation immediately drew public scrutiny, primarily because Tej Pratap had married Aishwarya Rai, daughter of former minister Chandrika Rai, in 2018. Their relationship, however, turned sour within months, and divorce proceedings are currently underway.
Reacting swiftly to the media frenzy and growing internal dissent, Lalu Prasad issued a stern statement: “My elder son’s activities, public conduct, and irresponsible behaviour are not in conformity with our family’s values and culture… He is being expelled from the party and distanced from the family.”
The expulsion, according to party insiders, is aimed at damage control ahead of the crucial Bihar Assembly elections later this year. RJD leaders reportedly fear the controversy may provide ammunition to opposition parties like the BJP and JD(U), which have consistently targeted the RJD on issues of governance and integrity.
Tej Pratap Yadav, a sitting MLA and former minister, has often been known for his erratic political conduct and combative remarks, particularly against state RJD president Jagdanand Singh and his younger brother Tejashwi Yadav. His latest post, however, crossed what the party termed as “non-negotiable red lines.”
Attempting to control the fallout, Tej Pratap later claimed that his Facebook account had been hacked and that the post was “doctored to malign his image and that of the family.” On X (formerly Twitter), he wrote, “…pictures had been edited in a wrong manner to harass and defame me and my family. I caution my followers to remain alert and not get influenced by any rumours.”
Despite the clarification, the party remained unmoved. RJD chief spokesperson Shakti Singh Yadav reiterated the party’s zero-tolerance stance on indiscipline: “The decision taken by our party president only indicates how our party does not allow any irresponsible and indisciplined behaviour by any party leader or cadre. We are committed to social justice and moral accountability.”
Tejashwi Yadav, RJD’s current political face and leader of the opposition, also drew a clear line between personal liberty and party discipline. “We are working hard for Bihar. Everyone has a right to personal choices, but public conduct matters in politics. Our party president has made a decision and we all stand by it.”
Lalu’s daughter, Rohini Acharya, posted a cryptic yet sharp remark: “Those who renounce decency and cross the limits make themselves a subject of criticism.”
Political opponents seized the opportunity. BJP leader Nikhil Anand questioned the timing of Tej Pratap’s disclosure, saying, “He should have been honest before marriage and should apologize to Aishwarya Rai’s family.”
Notably, Tej Pratap Yadav had recently floated the Dharmanirpeksha Sevak Sangh, a platform that was seen as his attempt to position himself ideologically against the BJP’s RSS narrative. Sources suggest he was also lobbying for a more significant role within the RJD, but the recent scandal appears to have sealed his political fate — at least temporarily.
The episode also revives memories of past family rifts within the RJD. Lalu’s brothers-in-law, Sadhu Yadav and Subhash Yadav, had similarly exited the party due to irreconcilable differences, a pattern that now seems to repeat with Tej Pratap Yadav.
As the RJD braces itself for upcoming elections, the expulsion of Lalu’s own son signals the party’s intent to reinforce discipline and public morality — a move that may either consolidate its internal strength or expose deeper fissures within the family-centric political framework.