For Tej Pratap, Lalu Yadav and family have drawn a line in the sand

India Today

28-05-2025

The Lalu Prasad family, which has seen two Chief Ministers, has seen many storms over the decades. But the one brewing now is deeply personal and painfully public. Tej Pratap Yadav, the elder male son and once seen as the flamboyant heir to the RJD throne, finds himself cast out of both party and family, after a dramatic confession of love on Facebook triggered chaos.advertisementThe drama unfolded last Saturday, when Tej Pratap shared a photo with a woman named Anushka Yadav. Alongside the cozy photograph, he declared on Facebook, 'We have known each other for the last 12 years. We are in love.'The internet erupted. And not with applause.
Many were quick to remind him of his high-profile marriage to Aishwarya Roy in 2018, a wedding that had been projected as a grand political alliance in Bihar. Roy is the daughter of Chandrika Roy and granddaughter of Bihar's former Chief Minister, Daroga Prasad Roy.That marriage fell apart in a matter of months, ending in court battles, serious allegations, and endless media scrutiny. So when Tej Pratap's post popped up, the timing couldn't have been worse — personally, legally, or politically. Tej Pratap is still legally married to Aishwarya Roy and Bihar elections are just a few months away.advertisementA few hours later, the post vanished. Tej Pratap claimed his Facebook account had been 'hacked', and that the viral post was a 'conspiracy to defame him and his family'. But the damage was done.LALU SEVERS TIESIn a move no one saw coming, Lalu Prasad went public on Sunday with a message. He expelled his elder son from the Rashtriya Janata Dal for six years and, more shockingly, said Tej Pratap would have 'no role in the family' either. His words were blunt: 'Disregard for moral values in personal life weakens our collective struggle to achieve social justice.'For a family known to protect its own, this was a turning point. And with Bihar heading to polls in a few months, the move is also seen as strategic.RIFT IN YADAV FAMILYThis isn't the first time Tej Pratap has been at odds with his own family. From launching a parallel outfit called 'Lalu-Rabri Morcha' to occupying chairs meant for party seniors, Tej Pratap has often walked a rebellious line.But this time, the family, especially younger brother Tejashwi Yadav, now the face of the RJD and INDIA bloc's chief coordinator in Bihar, isn't willing to accommodate the drama.When asked about his brother's expulsion, Tejashwi kept it civil but firm. 'There are certain things we cannot tolerate,' Tejashwi Yadav said.advertisementAs per a report by news agency PTI, party insiders say the final straw came when Tej Pratap hinted at contesting again from Mahua, a seat currently held by Tejashwi's close aide.It wasn't just about the relationship — it was about power and control. And in Bihar, politics and power reign supreme.THE FAMILY DIVIDEDInterestingly, while Rabri Devi has always had a soft corner for her elder son, this time even she hasn't publicly defended him. She's upset but silent, as per sources cited by PTI.Misa Bharti, too, known to stand by Tej Pratap, has chosen to side with Lalu. So has Rohini Acharya.But there's another voice growing louder. Akash Yadav, brother of Anushka, who has now directly blamed Tejashwi for the fallout.In an exclusive interview with India Today TV, Akash claimed, 'Anushka is in mental trauma... The Lalu family all knew the truth but chose silence. Two girls' lives are now destroyed.'He even referred to both Aishwarya and Anushka as his 'sisters' and accused the Lalu family of playing with their lives for politics.advertisementAISHWARYA BLAMES LALU FAMILYMeanwhile, Aishwarya Roy, Tej Pratap's estranged wife, wasn't holding back either. She called the expulsion a 'drama' staged for the elections."This drama has been enacted keeping the elections in mind. I don't think there has been any rift. They are all in cahoots. I am sure... Rabri Devi (mother-in-law) must have tried to console him (Tej Pratap) by wiping his tears and assuring him that all things will be sorted out," Aishwarya said.Her anger was visible as she asked, 'So, he himself says he is in a relationship with someone else. Was it not known to his family members. Why did Lalu ji, Rabri ji and Tejashwi ji get me married to such a person? My life has been ruined".WHAT LIES AHEAD FOR TEJ PRATAP?From the grand wedding of 2018 to this fall from grace in 2025, Tej Pratap's political graph has taken a nosedive. His flamboyant persona, from dressing like Lord Krishna to threatening his own security to his photos in pilot uniform, kept him in the headlines but never on solid political ground.Tej Pratap Yadav made his poll debut in 2015, and is a second-term MLA with two brief stints in the state cabinet. In his first term, he represented the Mahua assembly segment, but was made to shift base to Hasanpur five years later. This year, it remains to be be seen what role, if any, will Tej Pratap play in Bihar assembly election.advertisementHe now stands alone, with no party, no position, and no family backing.But true to his unpredictable nature, he broke his silence on Tuesday with a post congratulating Tejashwi on becoming a father again. He called himself 'Bade Papa'. Maybe it was a conciliatory attempt on his end.As Tejashwi steadies RJD's ship ahead of the Bihar elections, one thing is clear: the Lalu parivar, once known for sticking together in the worst of times, has drawn a sharp line this time. And Tej Pratap, the once-loved 'Lalu ka bada beta', has been left on the other side of it.Trending Reel