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India Today
26-05-2025
- Politics
- India Today
As Lalu Yadav expels son over sanskar, daughter-in-law shreds it as poll drama
Aishwarya Roy, ousted RJD leader Tej Pratap Yadav's estranged wife, called his sacking from the party and the family for six years by his father, Lalu Prasad Yadav, an eyewash to mislead the people, saying they are in cahoots. She said that it is a poll season drama enacted to save their faces ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections later this Sunday, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) patron Lalu Prasad Yadav expelled his eldest son Tej Pratap from the party for six years, citing his "irresponsible conduct" and deviation from the family's values and public in a post on X, said that the activities, public conduct and irresponsible behaviour of the eldest son were not in accordance with the family values and traditions (Sanskars). "Therefore, due to the above circumstances, I am removing him from the party and family". The development came a day after a post on Tej Pratap's X account said he was in a relationship with a woman named Anushka Yadav for the last 12 years."They are in cahoots. It is a poll season drama enacted by the family. I am sure he will be taken back to the party once the Assembly elections are over," Roy said while speaking to the media on echoed what Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal (United) said on Sunday, rejecting Lalu Yadav's action taken in the wake of the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections."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," JDU national spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan the move in a social media post, Lalu Yadav said that ignoring moral values in personal life weakens the party's collective struggle for social justice, adding that the conduct of Tej Pratap was not in line with family values or traditions."Somebody ask them, why did they ruin my life? Where was this social justice when these people beat me up? Ask them what my future is going to be like," Roy Tej Pratap's divorce case with Aishwarya Roy remains stuck in court. His marriage to Roy, granddaughter of ex-Bihar Chief Minister Daroga Roy, collapsed within months, with Aishwarya accusing her husband and in-laws of throwing her father, Chandrika Roy — himself a former minister, quit the RJD in protest, pledging to fight the battle "politically and legally".advertisementIn 2022, Aishwarya Roy blamed Tej Pratap's eldest sister Misa Bharti for creating a rift between the couple and driving a wedge between Tejashwi Yadav and her action against Tej Pratap came a day after a purported post by the 37-year-old on Facebook spoke of his long-standing relationship with Anushka Yadav, saying that they have been in love and in a relationship for the past 12 he later claimed that his Facebook account was hacked and the photos edited to defame him and his Watch
The Hindu
26-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Expelled from RJD: A timeline of Tej Pratap Yadav's controversial political journey
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.
Mint
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Mint
Who is Tej Pratap Yadav and what's his link to 'Aishwarya Rai'? All about Lalu's ousted son
Tej Pratap Yadav, former RJD leader and son of Lalu Yadav, is once again in the spotlight—this time for a now-deleted Facebook post claiming he has been 'in a relationship for 12 years.' The post triggered a storm, leading to his expulsion from RJD for six years and a public fallout with his family. Tej Pratap Yadav had married Aishwarya Rai, granddaughter of ex-Bihar CM Daroga Rai, in 2018. Their marriage soon soured, and the divorce case is still ongoing in the Patna Family Court. Citing 'irresponsible behaviour,' RJD supremo Lalu Yadav, on Sunday, expelled Tej Pratap Yadav, and cut all family ties with him over his post featuring him and his 'partner' together. Tej Pratap Yadav is Lalu Yadav's eldest son. His younger brother is Tejashwi Yadav, who is the current leader of opposition in Bihar and widely regarded as the political successor of the RJD leadership. Tej Pratap Yadav and Aishwarya Rai during their engagement in Patna Tej Pratap once held the position of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Minister in the Nitish Kumar-led Bihar cabinet. However, despite his stint in politics, Tej Pratap is often in the spotlight more for his controversies and eccentric public antics. During the Holi celebrations this year, Tej Pratap threatened to suspend a cop for refusing to dance. Tej Pratap Yadav and Aishwarya Rai's marriage in 2018 was a high-profile affair. Within a few months of their marriage, however, Aishwarya Rai moved out of Tej Pratap Yadav's home, alleging mistreatment by him and his family — sparking a high-profile and bitter fallout between two powerful political families. Her father, former minister Chandrika Roy, not only quit the RJD but also vowed to challenge the Yadavs both politically and in court. According to a report by The Economic Times, the divorce proceedings remain ongoing, marred by serious accusations from both sides. Tej Pratap has claimed that Aishwarya demanded a hefty alimony, while she has alleged that he used drugs. The ensuing legal battles have been highly publicised, with accusations and counter-accusations between the two. Their divorce case is still pending in the Patna family court, adding to the ongoing drama surrounding Tej Pratap's personal life. Anushka Yadav also found herself in a social media whirlwind after Tej Pratap Yadav's Facebook post circulated. The storm broke when a post from Tej Pratap's verified Facebook account proclaimed that the two had been 'in love and in a relationship for 12 years,' accompanied by a photo of the pair together, with the post's caption terming Anushka as Tej Pratap's girlfriend. The post quickly caught fire online, igniting intense public discussion and media scrutiny. But as the buzz escalated, Tej Pratap backtracked — claiming his Facebook account had been hacked, and distanced himself from the viral declaration that had thrown both him and Anushka into the spotlight.
India.com
25-05-2025
- Politics
- India.com
Who Is Tej Pratap Yadav? The Man At The Center Of Family Feud, Divorce Row
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) party president and ex-Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav on Sunday expelled his eldest son, Tej Pratap Yadav, from the party for six years on charges of "irresponsible behaviour" and violation of family values. The move also signified an official cutting of all familial bonds between Lalu and his eldest son. The move comes after a now-deleted tweet with a woman Tej Pratap referred to as his 12-year partner, which raised criticism following his unsettled and high-profile marriage of 2018 to Aishwarya Rai, the granddaughter of the erstwhile Bihar CM Daroga Rai. Writing in a scathing tweet on X, Lalu stated: "The public behaviour and irresponsible conduct of my eldest son are not in line with our family's values and cultural ethos. Ignoring moral standards in personal life weakens our collective fight for social justice… Therefore, I remove him from the party and the family. He will have no role of any kind henceforth." 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 Who Is Tej Pratap Yadav? Tej Pratap Yadav was born on April 16, 1988, in Gopalganj, Bihar. He is the eldest son of Lalu Prasad and ex-Chief Minister Rabri Devi. His younger brother, Tejashwi Yadav, is the present Leader of the Opposition in Bihar and the political face of the RJD. Tej Pratap previously served as Environment Minister in the Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government. Despite holding key political posts, he has often made headlines for his controversial remarks, eccentric public appearances, and social media antics, rather than for his legislative work. He got married to Aishwarya Rai in a highly publicised marriage in 2018. The marriage soon became stormy, with Aishwarya complaining of harassment at the hands of Tej Pratap and his family members. There was a legal and political battle that followed, with her father, erstwhile RJD minister Chandrika Roy, resigning from the party. The Facebook Post And Fallout The newest controversy started with a Facebook post by Tej Pratap with a woman named Anushka Yadav, introduced as his 12-year partner. "The one seen in this picture is Anushka Yadav. We are in love and have been in a relationship for 12 years," said the post. The post angered people on social media, with the users asking how the statement was justified in the context of his earlier marriage. Tej Pratap responded by saying that his Facebook page had been hacked and the post was done as part of an attempt to "defame and harass" him and his relatives. There is no confirmation from him if a police complaint has been lodged. Political Isolation Grows Lalu's move to oust Tej Pratap is amidst increasing unease within the party over his behaviour, which has repeatedly found itself at loggerheads with RJD's public narrative. His social media posts and public utterances have strained relations with the party as well as his immediate kin, especiallyhis younger brother Tejashwi. Adding to the series of bizarre statements, in the first week of this month, Tej Pratap volunteered to join the army and fight against Pakistan, referring to his "pilot" training. Lalu Prasad summed up his announcement with the words, "He is capable of distinguishing between right and wrong in his personal life. Anyone who associates with him henceforth does so at their own risk." This sensational turn of events contributes another page to the continuing saga of Bihar's most senior political clan, as the RJD faces intraparty tensions before the next round of political battles.
Indian Express
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Convicted for life, after a feud to death: The story of Munna Shukla, a rival, and Bihar politics
A STORY from the Bihar badlands, of legendary friends turned arch rivals, a feud lasting four decades and several murders, may have entered yet another chapter. On Thursday, the Supreme Court confirmed the life sentence for former MLA Vijay Kumar Shukla alias Munna Shukla in the 1998 murder of ex-Bihar minister Brijbihari Prasad. The Court gave Shukla – who had appealed in Court against its order of October 2024, sentencing him to life – 15 days to surrender. Whether this is the end of the road for Shukla – who has survived other convictions, including of murder, while making strides in politics – is another matter, however. The killing of Brijbihari Prasad in June 1998, for which Shukla stands convicted, had been sensational, with the then ruling RJD leader gunned down at Patna's Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences. In 1999, the case was transferred to the CBI. Ten years later, a Patna trial court sentenced Shukla and five others to life terms. In October last year, the Supreme Court convicted Munna and Mantu Tiwari, another Bihar politician, and gave them life, while giving the other accused the benefit of doubt. In its Thursday order, the Court said it did not find 'any good ground and reason to review' the October judgment. Shukla was also convicted in another high-profile case, the 1994 lynching of then Gopalganj DM G Krishnaiah. In 2008, the Patna High Court acquitted him and five others, while commuted the death sentence given to former MP Anand Mohan in the case to life. Anand Mohan was given remission in 2023 and released from jail. Krishnaiah's wife challenged the remission in the Supreme Court, where the matter is pending. It was from Lalganj, Vaishali, in the 1970s that the story of the Shukla brothers – Chhotan, Bhutkun and Munna – began. The Bhumihar strongmen started off as petty contractors, which is how they came in contact with Prasad, a contractor from Motihari belonging to the OBC community. A Muzaffarpur-based journalist recalls: 'There was so much camaraderie between Brijbihari Prasad and the Shuklas at one stage that Prasad's wife Rama Devi would tie a rakhi to the eldest of the Shukla brothers, Chhotan, on Rakshabandhan.' Soon, the Shuklas' renown spread, as they ran up a list of allegations, particularly of extortion, and later, moved into politics. The brothers' expanding interests and muscle power brought them into conflict with Prasad, who too had graduated to politics after his business took off on the strength of government contracts. By 1982, the Shuklas and Prasad were officially at war. A retired police officer, who once served in Muzaffarpur, said: 'They targeted each other's supporters, resulting in several killings between 1983 and 1985. While the two groups were suspected to have a hand, no FIRs were filed against either side.' According to the former police officer, there was still peace as long as both Chhotan and Prasad enjoyed the patronage of influential Congress leader Raghunath Pandey, who was the Muzaffarpur MLA from 1985 to 2000. 'But then Prasad tried to defy Pandey, and Chhotan emerged as the latter's favourite.' With Pandey's backing, Chhotan went about securing the support of most of the prominent upper caste leaders, particularly Hemant Shahi, the son of former minister and Bhumihar Congress leader L P Shahi. By 1990, Chhotan moved his attention full-time to politics, leaving the control of contracts to Bhutkun. The thorn in the Shuklas' side, however, remained Prasad – who, having fallen out of favour with Pandey, found a benefactor in the RJD. Getting a jump over the Shuklas, he became an MLA and a minister in 1990 in the Lalu Prasad government. He also grew close to Begusarai muscleman Ashok Sharma a.k.a Ashok Samrat, a Bhumihar. This triggered a fresh round of turf war as, bolstered by power, Prasad tried to curb the Shukla brothers' influence. The escalating cycle of violence culminated in Chhotan's killing in 1994. Police made hardly any headway in the murder, finally filing a closure report in 2020. Chhotan's death meant Bhutkun took over the Shukla family reins. In 1994, he was named along with younger brother Munna in the lynching of G Krishnaiah. Police officers say that Chhotan evaded them by remaining confined largely to his village Khanjahachak, which was surrounded by rivers from three sides while, on the fourth, there was an escape route to Uttar Pradesh via Saran. In March 1997, Prasad's close aide Onkar Singh was killed, with the hand of the Shuklas suspected in it. Months later, in October 1997, Bhutkun was killed by his own bodyguard. Officers say the bodyguard had been planted by his rivals back in 1995, and gained Bhutkun's confidence over the next two years. The bodyguard was never caught, and Bhutkun's killing too remained unsolved. Eight months later, on June 13, 1998, Munna allegedly struck back, getting Prasad at the Patna hospital where he was admitted due to several ailments. Apart from Munna, police booked UP's Sriprakash Shukla, another known mafia don, and politicians Rajan Tiwari and Suraj Bhan, along with six others in Prasad's killing. Sriprakash was killed in September 1998. In 2009, a Patna court sentenced all the others accused to life. In July 2014, the Patna High Court acquitted them. The coming together of the upper-caste Rajputs and Bhumihars, who would make up about 8% of the state's population, could be a threat to the RJD politics. Lalu had a taste of it when the Bihar People's Party, formed by Anand Mohan, fielded Chhotan's widow Kiran Shukla from the Kesaria Assembly seat in the 1995 polls. She lost though to CPI OBC candidate, Yamuna Yadav. In 2005, the Shuklas made a fresh foray into politics, when Munna contested on the ticket of RJD rival JD(U) from the Lalganj Assembly seat and won. After his conviction in 2009, Munna's wife Annu contested from the seat as an Independent in 2010 – and retained it. As is the way of politics, things have come full circle, with Munna now with the RJD – the party he was pitted against all these years. Last year, before the Supreme Court conviction came, he contested the Lok Sabha polls from Vaishali as RJD nominee against the LJP (Ramvilas)'s Veena Devi, but lost. In the Assembly elections due this year, Munna was hopeful of getting a ticket again, for either himself or wife Annu, from Lalganj. The seat incidentally is represented by the RJD's Sanjay Kumar Singh currently. On the other side, Prasad's wife Rama Devi is also well-entrenched in politics, having won as the Sheohar MP thrice, in 2009, 2014 and 2019, from the BJP. In last year's Lok Sabha elections, Rama was denied a ticket from Sheohar, with the nomination going to BJP ally JD(U)'s Lovely Anand, who won. Lovely Anand, incidentally, is the wife of Anand Mohan. RJD spokesperson Mrityunjay Tiwari indicated the turf war may continue – at least in politics. 'What can one say about the Supreme Court's verdict? Munna Shukla will explore more legal options,' Tiwari said.
