Last Updated:May 25, 2025, 20:36 IST

“I have always been an advocate of public shame in public life. The obedient members of the family have adopted and followed this idea in public life,” Lalu Yadav said.

RJD supremo Lalu Yadav expels eldest son Tej Pratap Yadav. (File)

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav on Sunday expelled his eldest son Tej Pratap Yadav from the party for six years and disowned from the family , citing his “irresponsible conduct” and deviation from the family’s values.

The decision came a day after the former Bihar minister shared a post on social media, where he had declared that he was in a relationship with a young woman named Anushka Yadav for 12 years. Later he claimed that his Facebook page was “hacked”.

Announcing the move in a post on X, the RJD patron said that ignoring moral values in personal life weakens the party’s collective struggle for social justice. He further said that conduct of Tej Pratap Yadav was not in line with family values or traditions.

“Neglecting 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 sanskaar. Therefore, due to the above circumstances, I am removing him from the party and the family. From now on, he will not have any kind of role in the party and the family. He is expelled from the party for 6 years,” he said in a post on X.

Lalu Yadav further said that those who would keep their relation with Tej Pratap should make their own informed decisions.

“He is capable of seeing the good and bad and the merits and demerits of his personal life. Whoever will have relations with him should decide with their own discretion. I have always been an advocate of public shame in public life. The obedient members of the family have adopted and followed this idea in public life,” he added.

Family Reacts

Echoing similar thoughts, Lalu Yadav’s younger son Tejashwi Yadav reacted to his father’s decision and said that one should keep their political and personal life separate.

“We cannot tolerate such things, we are working and are dedicated to the people of Bihar. If it’s about my big brother, 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, and ever since he has said so, it is his feelings. We didn’t question such things… What he is doing in his personal life, nobody asks before doing anything. I have come to know about it via the media only,” Tejashwi Yadav said.

Lalu Yadav’s daughter and Tej Pratap’s sister Rohini Acharya also supported her father’s decision of expelling her brother saying that those who abandon their wisdom, they make themselves the subject of criticism.

“Those who take care of the dignity of the environment, tradition, family and upbringing are never questioned. Those who abandon their wisdom and repeatedly commit the mistake of crossing the limits of decent conduct and family prestige, they make themselves the subject of criticism. For us, Papa is like God, family is our temple and pride and the party built by Papa’s tireless efforts and struggles and the concept of social justice are our worship. We will never accept that the reputation of these three is tarnished due to anyone,” she said in a post on X.

What’s The Row?

The decision came after a Facebook post by Tej Pratap blew the lid off the matter. On Saturday, he posted on the social media platform that he was “in a relationship” with a young woman, prompting netizens to recall his marital dispute that made headlines a few years ago.

In the post, he had also shared a photograph of himself with the young woman.

“The one seen in this picture is Anushka Yadav. We have been known to each other for the last 12 years. We are in love and have been in a relationship for 12 years,” the caption read.

Later, he claimed that his Facebook page was “hacked” saying that there was an attempt to “defame and harass” him and his family members.

In a Hindi clarification shared shortly after the viral post, Tej Pratap wrote: “My social media platforms have been hacked and my photos are being edited inappropriately to harass and defame me and my family. I appeal to my well-wishers and followers to stay alert and not pay attention to any rumours”.

Tej Pratap’s Failed Marriage

Yadav had tied the knot with Aishwarya, the grand-daughter of former Bihar chief minister Daroga Rai in 2018. However, within a few months, Aishwarya left his house, alleging that she was driven out by her husband and in-laws.

Her father, Chandrika Roy, a former minister himself, quit the RJD, vowing to fight his daughter’s battle “politically and legally”.

The couple’s divorce petition is pending before the family court in Patna. Both sides have since been trading charges. While Yadav has accused his wife of demanding a princely sum by way of alimony, Aishwarya has alleged that her estranged husband was a deviant who took drugs and, in private, dressed like a woman.

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