In a dramatic turn of events, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav has announced the suspension of his elder son, Tej Pratap Yadav, from both the party and the family for a period of six years. The announcement follows the uproar over a controversial Facebook post made by Tej Pratap, which was later deleted. Taking to social media platform X, Lalu issued a firm statement distancing himself from his son’s actions.
“Ignoring moral values in personal life weakens our collective struggle for social justice. The actions, public conduct, and irresponsible behavior of my eldest son are not in accordance with our family’s principles. Therefore, under these circumstances, I am removing him from the party and the family. Effective immediately, he will have no role of any kind in either. He is expelled from the party for six years,” he declared.
The controversy began when Tej Pratap posted a photo on Facebook with a woman named Anushka Yadav, claiming they had been in a romantic relationship for 12 years.
“I am Tej Pratap Yadav and the girl who is seen with me in this picture is Anushka Yadav. We both have known each other for the last 12 years and love each other deeply. We have been in a relationship throughout these years. I wanted to share this with all of you for a long time, but couldn’t find the right words. Today, through this post, I am opening my heart to you. I hope you all will understand,” he wrote in the now-deleted post.
The revelation triggered backlash, with many questioning his 2018 marriage to Aishwarya Rai, daughter of former Bihar minister Chandrika Rai, despite allegedly being in a long-term relationship. That marriage ended in separation just a few months later. As the post gained traction online, Tej Pratap claimed his Facebook account had been compromised.
“My social media platform was hacked and my photographs were edited wrongfully,” he said on X, dismissing the viral post as manipulated. Lalu, however, stood by his decision, suggesting that the matter had crossed a line.
“Whoever wants to keep in touch with him can decide independently. I have always advocated decorum in public life. The obedient members of the family have followed this,” he added. Tejashwi Yadav, Tej Pratap’s younger brother and the current face of RJD, also addressed the issue, making a clear distinction between personal and political responsibilities.
“We are doing our work, we are dedicated to Bihar and we are raising people’s issues. As far as my elder brother is concerned, political life and personal life are different. He has the right to make his personal decisions. He is an adult and free to make decisions. Our party’s chief has made it clear,” he said, while adding that such matters “cannot be tolerated.”
The episode marks a rare public fallout in Bihar’s most prominent political family, raising questions about leadership succession and internal discipline within the RJD.