Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) founder Lalu Prasad Yadav on Sunday expelled his elder son, Tej Pratap Yadav, from the party for six years, citing his “irresponsible conduct” and deviation from family values and public decorum.
The decision follows a controversial Facebook post allegedly made by Tej Pratap, where he claimed to be in a long-term romantic relationship with a woman named Anushka Yadav for the past 12 years. After backlash, he asserted that his account was hacked and the content was doctored to damage his and his family’s reputation.
Lalu Yadav Cites Breach of Moral Conduct
In a social media post, Lalu Yadav said, “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.”
He further wrote, “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.”
Tejashwi Yadav Responds, Calls for Separation of Personal and Political Life
Tejashwi Yadav, Lalu’s younger son and prominent RJD leader, addressed the matter, maintaining that personal and political matters should be handled separately.
“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,” he said while speaking to the press in Patna.
JDU Alleges Political Drama Ahead of Bihar Elections
Janata Dal (United) hit out at Lalu Yadav, calling the move a calculated step ahead of the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections. JDU national spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan commented:
“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.”
Tej Pratap’s marriage to Aishwarya Rai, granddaughter of former Bihar CM Daroga Rai, ended in controversy, with divorce proceedings still pending. Aishwarya had accused her husband and in-laws of throwing her out of their home. Her father Chandrika Roy, a former minister, quit the RJD in protest and vowed to fight the matter “politically and legally.”
The Viral Post and Aftermath
On Saturday, a post from Tej Pratap’s Facebook account stirred public attention. It featured emotional remarks and personal photos, with many speculating about a possible wedding. However, Tej Pratap quickly issued a clarification, stating:
“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.”
Electoral Ambitions Remain Despite Controversy
Despite the expulsion, Tej Pratap is likely to contest in the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections from Mahua in Vaishali district. He previously held this seat in 2015 before moving to Hasanpur in 2020.
With the elections approaching, the political ramifications of Lalu Yadav’s stern move remain to be seen. While some view it as a disciplinary step, others see it as a political strategy amid rising electoral heat in Bihar.
