Lalu Prasad Expels Son Tej Pratap Yadav from RJD and Severs Family Ties
Patna, May 25 – In a dramatic political development, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad on Sunday expelled his elder son Tej Pratap Yadav from the party for six years, citing his “irresponsible behavior” and “conduct unbecoming of the family’s values.” In a strongly worded post shared on the social media platform X, Lalu also announced the severance of all family ties with Tej Pratap.
The decision came just a day after Tej Pratap posted on social media that he had been in a relationship with a woman for 12 years, despite being legally married. His divorce petition is still pending in a Patna family court.
As per agency report, Lalu did not refer directly to Tej Pratap’s revelations in his post, but strongly criticized his public conduct, stating that such actions were contrary to the moral values his family upholds. He wrote that Tej Pratap’s behavior was not in line with the dignity of public life and that he would no longer have any role in the party or in the family.
Lalu emphasized that disregard for personal morals undermines the collective struggle for social justice and said Tej Pratap should now make his own decisions. He urged people to act with discretion when engaging with his son, underlining that he always stood for public decency.
This announcement comes just months ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections, which the RJD is expected to contest under the leadership of Lalu’s younger son Tejashwi Yadav. When asked about the issue, Tejashwi responded with measured words, saying such behavior was not acceptable and that his brother, being an adult, is free to make his own choices.
Tej Pratap Yadav, who entered politics in 2015, has served twice as an MLA and has held ministerial positions. However, unlike his younger brother Tejashwi, he has often drawn public attention for the wrong reasons. Recently, he faced criticism for allegedly threatening a policeman who refused to dance on his instructions and for riding a two-wheeler without a helmet.
Over the years, Tej Pratap has been at the center of several controversies, including supporting rebel candidates during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, launching a parallel outfit named "Lalu Rabri Morcha", and occupying a chair reserved for the party president at the RJD headquarters.
Reacting to the developments, JD(U) spokesperson Neeraj Kumar commented that Lalu’s decision was aimed at salvaging his reputation after Tej Pratap claimed his social media account had been hacked following the relationship disclosure. Kumar, however, questioned why Lalu remained silent when his daughter-in-law, a former chief minister’s granddaughter, was allegedly insulted.
Tej Pratap’s controversial post was followed by widespread criticism on social media, where many users reminded him of his marriage.
Late Saturday night, Tej Pratap claimed that his social media accounts had been hacked and that edited photos were being used to defame him and his family. Despite his clarification, public outrage did not subside, prompting what appears to be a definitive move from Lalu Prasad to distance himself and the party from the controversy.
The episode marks a major shift in Bihar’s political landscape and could have significant implications for the RJD as it prepares for the upcoming elections under Tejashwi Yadav’s leadership.
