Patna, May 25: In a dramatic and unprecedented political development, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) president Lalu Prasad Yadav on Sunday expelled his elder son, Tej Pratap Yadav, from the party for a period of six years, citing “irresponsible behaviour” and a deviation from family values. In a strongly worded statement posted on social media platform X, Lalu also announced a complete severance of familial ties with Tej Pratap, marking a significant rupture in the powerful political family’s internal dynamics.
In the post, the veteran leader underscored the importance of personal integrity in public life and condemned his son’s recent actions as being contrary to the moral and ethical values upheld by both the family and the party. “Ignoring moral values in personal life weakens our collective struggle for social justice. The conduct and behavior of my eldest son are incompatible with our family’s traditions and principles. Under these circumstances, I hereby remove him from the party and the family. He will play no role of any kind going forward. He is expelled from the RJD for six years,” Lalu wrote.
The disciplinary action follows a controversy triggered by Tej Pratap Yadav’s Facebook post on Saturday, in which he claimed to be in a romantic relationship with a young woman. The post went viral and invited widespread criticism on social media, with many netizens reminding the 37-year-old former Bihar minister about his high-profile marriage to Aishwarya Rai, granddaughter of former Chief Minister Daroga Rai. The couple’s marriage, solemnized in 2018 with great pomp, had soon turned sour, leading to public disputes and allegations from Aishwarya of mistreatment and being ousted from her marital home.
Shortly after the uproar, Tej Pratap issued a clarification, claiming that his social media account had been hacked and that the viral post was doctored. “My social media platform was hacked and my photographs were edited wrongfully,” he said in a late-night post on X, attempting to control the damage.
Despite the explanation, Lalu Prasad appears to have taken a firm and final decision. The development signals not only a serious disciplinary stance within the RJD’s top leadership but also exposes the widening rift within the Yadav family. Political observers believe the fallout may have long-term repercussions on the party’s cohesion and public image, particularly with Lok Sabha elections looming.
Tej Pratap Yadav, known for his eccentric public behaviour and unpredictable political stances, had been a controversial figure within the party ranks for years. While his younger brother Tejashwi Yadav has risen steadily through the ranks and is now the party’s face in Bihar, Tej Pratap has struggled to maintain a consistent political course, often clashing with senior party leaders and even family members.
The public expulsion and disownment have now brought this internal discord into full public view, potentially altering the course of political narratives in Bihar in the months ahead.