Expelled from RJD: A timeline of Tej Pratap Yadav's controversial political journey

The Hindu

26-05-2025

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) party president and ex-Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad on Sunday (May 25, 2025) expelled his eldest son, Tej Pratap Yadav, from the party for six years on charges of 'irresponsible behaviour' and violation of family values.
Also Read: My FB page was hacked: Tej Pratap after viral post claims he was 'in relationship'
In a strongly worded statement shared on X (formerly), Mr. Lalu Prasad wrote, 'Ignoring moral values ​​in personal life weakens our collective struggle for social justice. The activities, public conduct and irresponsible behavior of the eldest son are not in accordance with our family values ​​and traditions. Therefore, due to the above circumstances, I remove him from the party and family. From now on, he will not have any role of any kind in the party and family. He is expelled from the party for 6 years.'
निजी जीवन में नैतिक मूल्यों की अवहेलना करना हमारे सामाजिक न्याय के लिए सामूहिक संघर्ष को कमज़ोर करता है। ज्येष्ठ पुत्र की गतिविधि, लोक आचरण तथा गैर जिम्मेदाराना व्यवहार हमारे पारिवारिक मूल्यों और संस्कारों के अनुरूप नहीं है। अतएव उपरोक्त परिस्थितियों के चलते उसे पार्टी और परिवार… — Lalu Prasad Yadav (@laluprasadrjd) May 25, 2025
The development came a day after a post was shared on Mr. Tej Pratap's Facebook profile of him with a woman, along with a caption that indicated they had been in a relationship for 12 years. The post was later deleted and Mr. Tej Pratap wrote in a post on X: 'My social media platforms have been hacked and my pictures are being wrongly edited to harass and defame me and my family members. I appeal to my well-wishers and followers to be cautious and ignore rumours.'
Mr. Tej Pratap's political journey has been marred by controversies that have overshadowed his contributions.
2015: Induction into Bihar Cabinet
Appointed as Bihar's Health Minister in 2015, Mr. Tej Pratap's tenure was noted more for his eccentricities than policy initiatives. He reportedly consulted astrologers for official decisions and brought a cow into his ministerial bungalow, raising eyebrows about his administrative seriousness.
2018: Marital dispute becomes public
His marriage to Aishwarya Rai, granddaughter of former Bihar Chief Minister Daroga Prasad Rai, ended tumultuously within months. Aishwarya accused Tej Pratap and his family of domestic abuse, leading to a bitter public dispute and legal battles. Later, she also alleged that her husband was a drug addict and often dressed up like Radha, Krishna and Shiva, claiming to be their avatar.
2019: Alleged assault on journalist
During the 2019 general elections, a video surfaced showing Tej Pratap's bodyguards allegedly assaulting a video journalist. Tej Pratap claimed it was a conspiracy to harm him, further fueling media scrutiny.
2019: Floats 'Lalu-Rabri Morcha' after tensions with RJD leadership
In April 2019, Tej Pratap Yadav launched a parallel political outfit named the Lalu-Rabri Morcha, expressing dissatisfaction with the functioning of the Rashtriya Janata Dal. Though he claimed it was not a breakaway faction, the move was viewed as a sign of internal rift within the party ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
2021: Meeting with NDA ally sparks speculation
In June 2021, Tej Pratap Yadav's meeting with Mukesh Sahani, leader of the NDA-aligned Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP), drew criticism and confusion within the RJD. The meeting came shortly after VIP threatened to contest panchayat polls independently. While Tej Pratap dismissed speculation, the meeting was seen as politically ambiguous and again raised concerns about his alignment with party strategy.
2025: Holi incident involving police officer
In March 2025, a video went viral showing Tej Pratap instructing his bodyguard, Constable Deepak Kumar, to dance during Holi celebrations, threatening suspension if he refused. The incident drew criticism for alleged abuse of power.
The expulsion has significant implications for Bihar's political landscape. With Tejashwi Yadav emerging as the RJD's prominent face against the NDA government, the party aims to present a unified front. However, the BJP-led NDA appears poised to exploit the rift within the Yadav family ahead of the state elections. As Bihar approaches its state elections, the RJD's internal dynamics will undoubtedly influence its electoral prospects.